Hillsborough Sheriff Chad Chronister has released a video warning motorists against using their cell phones or otherwise not paying attention while driving.

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY – Sheriff Chad Chronister has released a public service announcement warning motorists about the dangers of distracted driving.

The PSA is part off Chronister’s ongoing efforts to provide the public with timely and useful safety tips through social media.

Distracted driving comes in a lot of forms, from using your phone, to putting  on makeup, to eating behind the wheel. It’s incredibly dangerous to everyone on the road, Chronister said.

“When you’re more focused on sending an emoji or liking a picture, you’re putting other drivers, pedestrians and cyclists at risk,” Chronister said.

Research shows that reading a text message while driving takes about five seconds. If a vehicle is moving at 55 miles per hour, a driver is able to travel 300 feet without looking up, which is equivalent to the length of a football field.

“We don’t want to tell a parent or a spouse that their loved one is gone, because either they or another driver was distracted,” Chronister said. “So remember this phrase: Phones down, eyes up.”

To view Chronister’s distracted driving PSA, go to youtu.be/2BV-miI4fuk.

Photos are screen grabs from the video.

Chad Chronister | Hillsborough Sheriff | Distracted Driving | Tampabay News

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