About 12 percent of the 10,124 crashes in 2015 in Rutherford County were caused by distracted driving, said Sheriff Robert Arnold.

That's why Rutherford County Sheriff's Office is partnering with the Tennessee Highway Safety Office to promote the second annual "Thumbs Down to Texting and Driving" campaign during April.

April is nationally recognized as Distracted Driving Awareness Month. Agencies participate in the campaign by providing information and increasing awareness in their communities about the dangers of distracted driving.

"While texting and driving, drivers are not giving their full attention to operating a motor vehicle," Sheriff Arnold said. "Driving distracted potentially endangers the driver's life and other innocent motorists."

Texting and driving in Tennessee can result in a $50 fine for a driver of any age. For young drivers who have Learner's Permits or Intermediate Restricted licenses, cell phone use of any kind while driving is illegal.

Preliminary data reveals in 2015, Tennessee experienced its highest number of known distracted driving crashes at 22,964. These crashes resulted in the death of 51 people. Each day, 25 individuals on average are injured in a crash caused by a distracted driver. Nearly twelve percent of all crashes in Tennessee last year were caused by someone who was driving distracted.

"Crashes caused by distracted drivers have more than doubled in the last decade," said Tennessee Highway Safety Office Public Information Officer Amanda Brown. "Each day, nearly 63 people in Tennessee are distracted by something in their vehicle, whether it is a phone, food, the radio, or something else, and they hit someone. We all have to start taking responsibility for our actions and make the choice to focus on one thing - the road."

For more information about the Thumbs Down campaign or to learn more about texting and driving, visit www.thumbsdowntn.com.