Giannoulias Launches Campaign to Fight Distracted Driving in Illinois

SPRINGFIELD – Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias has launched a statewide campaign to reduce distracted driving, focusing on teen drivers and public awareness. The “One Road. One Focus” effort includes a new video requirement for student drivers applying for a learner’s permit, a statewide billboard campaign, and increased patrols funded by a federal grant. The campaign rolls out during Distracted Driving Awareness Month and targets risky behaviors that contributed to nearly 3,300 deaths and over 300,000 injuries in 2023, according to federal data. The video, viewed by over 165,000 high schoolers, highlights the emotional and community impacts of distracted driving. Fifteen billboards with safety messages have been placed across Illinois, and state police will boost enforcement in areas with high crash rates.