Law enforcement agencies will join to fight distracted driving

VERMONT- April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month, and the Vermont State Police, county sheriffs, and local police departments will be joining forces across the state to focus enforcement efforts on texting and distracted-driving laws, and to raise awareness about the dangers and legal implications of distracted driving.

Connect to Disconnect is an enforcement campaign bringing awareness to distracted driving during the month of April. 

The Windham County Highway Safety Task Force, consisting of officers from the Windham County Sheriff’s Office, Bellows Falls Police Department, Brattleboro Police Department, and Dover Police Department will join law enforcement agencies nationwide to remind drivers about the dangers and consequences of texting and distracted driving.

According to NHTSA, nationwide between 2012 and 2017, nearly 20,000 people died in crashes involving a distracted driver.  There were 3,166 people killed in motor vehicle crashes involving distracted drivers in 2017, nearly one-tenth of all fatal crashes that year. An analysis by the AAA Foundation of 2009 to 2012 data found that while more than 80% of drivers believed it was completely unacceptable for a motorist to text behind the wheel, more than a third of those same drivers admitted to reading text messages while operating a motor vehicle themselves.

In Vermont from 2013 to 2017, 957 motor vehicle crashes were caused by a distracted driver.  It is against the law for anyone to text and drive.  In addition, hand-held use of an electronic device is against the law.  This includes when a motorist is stopped in traffic; for example, when stopped at a red light.   

People know texting and driving is dangerous and illegal, but they do it anyway, and it puts others at risk.

Visit www.ItCanWait.com to take the pledge and to find impactful resources and information you can use to spread this simple message: No text, photo, email or post is worth a life – it can wait.

 

The Deerfield Valley News

797 VT Route 100 North
Wilmington, VT 05363

Phone: 802-464-3388
Fax: 802-464-7255

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