Boise (670 KBOI News) – Did you know that distracted driving kills about 35-hundred Americans each year? That’s about 10% of all fatal crashes.

That’s why April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month, and Jes Benson with the Idaho Department of Insurance says it costs not just lives, but millions of dollars in higher insurance premiums, too.

“In 2009, the average annual insurance premium had decreased,” said Benson.  “Then, we’ve seen the trend reverse, as having smartphones and things in the car have led to more distractions and it shows insurance premiums have climbed about 12 %.”

But it’s not just phones and electronics that are distractions…Benson says putting on make up, eating, messing with the kids, tuning the radio and more are distractions as well.

Click here to take their “Keep the Road Code” refresher course on driving safely.