A growing number of traffic incidents involving teenage drivers has brought renewed attention to the dangers of distracted driving. With smartphones, in-car technology, and social media competing for young drivers’ attention, many high school students struggle to put their phones down behind the wheel.
“A lot of everything is pretty much a distraction,” West Chicago Police Officer Mike Levato said. “Telephone calls, talking on the phone, having your earbuds in, music — I mean, everything is a distraction.”
Levato emphasized that drivers often aren’t even aware of how risky their habits have become.
“You’re so used to doing stuff, you don’t realize that it’s actually distracting you,” he said. “We get, in West Chicago, about 1,000 crashes a year. Probably 95% of them are completely avoidable. Texting is probably responsible for 30 to 40% of all the crashes in town.”
In 2024, distracted driving caused 3,000 deaths nationwide and resulted in over 400,000 injuries. Teen drivers, who often underestimate risks, are especially vulnerable due to their limited experience.
West Chicago Community High School junior Rachel Knaack said she frequently notices distracted drivers on the road.
“First, it’s illegal, and it’s very distracting,” Knaack said. “I’ll pass people who are going either like 10 or 15 under, and they’ll be on their phones. Or they’ll be swerving – calling hands-free is okay, but obviously texting is not.”
To combat this issue, Illinois launched its annual “Drop It and Drive” campaign in April, backed by funding from the Illinois Department of Transportation and coordinated efforts from local police departments across the state. West Chicago is among many communities increasing patrols and issuing citations as part of the initiative.
“We get grant money from the state,” Levato said. “They’ll say, ‘We’re giving you funds to have officers work overtime — just for distracted driving enforcement.’”
During these stepped-up patrols, police monitor intersections and roadways for drivers using their phones.
“We’ll have someone posted at an intersection just watching cars. If I see a driver on the phone, I radio to an officer down the road,” Levato said. “That car drives by, and they get pulled over.”
Junior Aaron Lorenc said teenagers’ inexperience behind the wheel makes distracted driving especially dangerous.
“A lot of them are a lot more inexperienced than adults with driving,” Lorenc said. “So I think it’s more dangerous for them to do distracted driving – more dangerous for anyone, really, but especially for teens.”
Although Illinois law allows officers to ticket drivers for using their phones behind the wheel, Lorenc believes distracted driving remains a significant concern.
Efforts to curb distracted driving aim to reduce accidents and improve safety on the roads.
Distracted driving remains a serious issue not only in West Chicago, but across the country. These preventable crashes result in thousands of injuries and deaths each year. When drivers reach for their phones, they are not only risking their own safety, but also putting others on the road in danger.
