Police Plan Crackdown On Distracted Driving

On Monday, May 10, police plan to start a two-week enforcement crackdown on violations of state laws concerning distracted driving, focusing on motorists who illegally use a handheld cellphone while driving or who use electronic texting devices while driving.

Sergeant Christopher Vanghele, who heads the police department’s traffic enforcement unit, said that police will significantly increase their enforcement on such violations, concentrating their work on state and local roads, as well as business areas and school zones.

Police plan to conduct statistical surveys to compare the fraction of drivers who illegally used handheld cellphones before the enforcement project began and also the fraction of drivers who illegally used the devices after the project is completed, he said.

The fine for distracted driving is $100.

Distracted driving is very dangerous and can have fatal consequences in motor vehicle accidents, according to Sgt Vanghele.

Motorists who use cellphones while driving are four times as likely to cause a motor vehicle accident as  drivers not using a cellphone, according to the sergeant.

The use of a handheld cellphone while driving is considered to pose a similar accident risk as that posed by a driver who is at the .08-percent blood alcohol level, which is the point at which a driver is considered legally drunk, Sgt Vanghele said in a statement.