April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month

“U Drive. U Text. U Pay.” Enforcement Period Kicked off April 1

The Connecticut Department of Transportation Highway Safety Office launched U Drive. U Text. U Pay., a national high-visibility enforcement campaign for National Distracted Driving Awareness Month.

The campaign will step up enforcement efforts to enforce distracted-driving laws from April 1 to April 30, 2022.

In Connecticut in 2020, there were nearly 5,000 crashes attributed to distracted driving.

Connecticut law prohibits the use of any hand-held mobile electronic device while operating a motor vehicle. Drivers who are 16 or 17 years of age are prohibited from using a cell phone or mobile device at any time, even with a hands-free accessory.

Violating Connecticut’s distracted-driving laws can be costly. Drivers who are ticketed are fined $200 for the first offense, $375 for the second offense, and $625 for the third and subsequent offenses.

The Connecticut Department of Transportation urges motorists to put their phone down when they get behind the wheel. If someone needs to text, pull over and park the vehicle in a safe place first.

For more information, visit distraction.gov.