April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month

April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month, and the National Safety Council is sponsoring a “Take Back Your Drive Pledge.”

You can expect that police departments in our area will be cracking down on drivers endangering public safety.

Motorists can expect extra patrols, spotters and stationary police vehicles prominently placed around the town. You can also expect police elsewhere to crack down on distracted driving this month.

Under Connecticut’s cell phone and texting law, violations involve heavy fines, ranging from $150 for first offense, $300 for second offense, and $500 for each subsequent violation. Connecticut created a first-in-the-nation system that allows offenses to affect the violator’s car insurance premium.

An estimated 1 in 4 car crashes involve cell phones, according to the National Safety Council, and 34 percent of teen drivers have admitted to texting while driving; 52 percent have said they have talked on the phone. 10 percent of drivers under the age of 20 involved in fatal crashes were reported as distracted at the time of the crash.

Please do not drive distracted – not this month, not ever. It is unsafe and endangers both fellow motorists and pedestrians.

Please consider taking the National Safety Council’s pledge to be an attentive driver by clicking below.