More than 300 law enforcement agencies across the state are stepping up patrol to crack down on distracted driving. This April, the Iowa Department of Public Safety’s (DPS) Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau (GTSB) wants to bring to light the alarming number of crashes caused by distracted driving.
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The initiative will last through April 17.
The Vacaville Fairfield Police Departments are joining the fight to stop distracted driving.
You better have your eyes on the road and hands on the steering wheel because police in Montgomery County are cracking down on distracted driving. Based on the concept of the Breathalyzer, a device called the “Textalyzer” is being developed to help authorities determine whether a driver involved in a crash was using their cell phone. Millennial drivers report the highest rates of texting (74 percent) and checking social media sites (36 percent) while driving. When traveling at 55 miles per hour, that’s enough time to cover the length of a football field blindfolded. “Drivers who break our state’s texting law will be stopped and fined”. “With the increase of in-car technology, there are more distractions vying for a driver’s attention”.
In Minnesota, it is illegal for drivers to read, compose or send texts and emails; and access the web while the vehicle is in motion or a part of traffic.
“Lives are at stake on our highways”, NHTSA Administrator Mark Rosekind said. “U Text. U Pay.” campaign that is cracking down on texting while driving.
In 2014, there were 322 total fatalities in Iowa, which included four (4) distracted driving fatalities and 324 distracted-driving injuries.
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“These findings are important because we see a younger population of drivers, particularly teens, who are more prone to engaging in distracting activities while driving”, said Tom Dingus, lead author of the study and director of the institute. The national “U Drive”.
