Police Target Distracted Driving as Deaths Mount
“Put the Phone Away or Pay”state grant funds police campaign against texting while driving in Port Jervis during National Distracted Driving Awareness Month.
by William Worden
Port Jervis Police Chief
April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month, and from April 4-8, Port Jervis City Police Department officers will be using grant funding provided through the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee Police Traffic Services Program to participate in the “Put the Phone Away or Pay” national high visibility education and enforcement campaign.
Distracted driving statistics paint a grim picture. Distracted driving is dangerous, claiming 3,522 lives in 2021 (NHTSA). In addition, according to the CDC, an estimated 424,000 people were injured in crashes involving a distracted driver in 2019. About 1 in 5 of the people who died in crashes involving a distracted driver in 2019 were not in vehicles―they were walking, riding their bikes, or otherwise outside a vehicle (source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). Distracted driving continues to be a deadly driving hazard.
Texting and driving require motorists to take their eyes off the road, hands off the wheel, and mind off the task of driving. This is a recipe for a crash, and that’s a scary thought. It’s arrogant and selfish to think that your dangerous and illegal behavior is acceptable. No one has the right to put another person’s life at risk like that.
The Port Jervis City Police Department is serious about joining our law enforcement partners across the region to enforce texting laws. Extra patrols funded by the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee Police Traffic Services Grant will be deployed during this expanded enforcement wave and throughout the month of April to enforce cellular telephone use and texting while driving.
We urge you to do your part and make the commitment to drive phone-free today.
Distracted driving comes in many forms, but texting and cell phone use while driving has become the most prevalent type of distracted driving.
Protect lives by never texting or talking on the phone while driving.
Be a good passenger and speak out if the driver is distracted.
Encourage friends and family to drive phone-free.
Do not engage in social media scrolling or messaging while driving.
If you are expecting a text message or need to send one, pull over and park your car in a safe location. Once you are safely off the road and parked, it is safe to text.
When you get behind the wheel, be an example to your family and friends by putting your phone away. Just because other people do it doesn’t mean texting and driving is “normal” behavior.
For more information, please visit www.distraction.gov and the NYS Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee at https://trafficsafety.ny.gov
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