This April, the Ocean City Police Department is joining law enforcement agencies across the country to acknowledge a dangerous epidemic on America’s roadways, distracted driving. Nearly 5,500 people were killed and 450,000 more were injured in distracted driving crashes in 2009 alone, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
“Distracted driving is any non-driving activity a person engages in while operating a motor vehicle,” said Ocean City Police Chief Bernadette DiPino. “They can be in the form of electronic distractions, such as navigation systems and cell phones, or they can be more conventional distractions, such as putting on make-up, eating or playing with the car radio.”
According to NHTSA, 16 percent of fatal crashes in 2009 involved reports of distracted driving; in which the greatest proportion of distracted drivers was the under-20 age group. Of those people killed in distracted-driving-related crashes, 995 involved reports of a cell phone as a distraction.
The Ocean City Police Department is joining NHTSA to encourage people to “Put It Down.” When drivers engage in distracted driving behaviors, they are not only a danger to themselves, but to everyone else on the road around them.
“We all have a stake in this problem and we are all part of the solution,” Chief DiPino continued. “The Ocean City Police Department is determined to focus our attention on distracted drivers. If we encourage people to focus their attention on driving we can empower them to be a good example for our children, our peers and our community.”
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How many were caused by having a cat, dog or other pet riding on the driver's lap, etc.? After the crash they probably can't determine this source of distraction.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of Ocean City..... Few understand what distractions the Town subject theirs Bus Drivers to. Bus drivers have an internal intercom with a hand held microphone on the left, a radio with another microphone on the right, and a steering wheel in the middle. The intercom is used to announce stops. The radio is used to communicate with one of their supervisors for a number of important things such as when they need to take their lunch break. Not to fear, drivers are banned from using a cell phone. Doesn't really matter since there are no hands left anyway.
ReplyDeleteGive me a break. Stop telling me how to live.
ReplyDeleteso be sure not to talk to passengers, change the radio, adjust your car's thermostat, look at road signs, check your spedometer, eat, drink, apply make-up, sing, scratch (anywhere), light a cigarette, smoke a cigarette, adjust your seatbelt, roll your windows down/up, and for God's sake NEVER take your kids with you ANYWHERE! they are a huge distraction!
ReplyDeleteI can already see the next "campaign" in the works...the "speeding" campaigns and the "agressive driving" campaigns and the "seat belt" campaigns are playing out. The cops HAVE to come up with some "threat" and "danger" to battle and by "battle", I mean, surveil, harrass, ticket, and if they are lucky, a few strip searches, too. The fines will tremendous, too, which is really the whole point. Serving and protecting. Only the police believe THAT anymore....
ReplyDelete