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39 lives lost , over 3,000 injuries in
distracted driving; police begin education and
enforcement campaign |
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April 2, 2016 |
Bonners Ferry police will be participating in
Idaho's statewide Idaho "Drive Aware" campaign.
Yes, this means increased enforcement activity,
and hopefully will result in lives saved.
When a driver choses to drive distracted it can
result in tragic consequences, especially for
more vulnerable road users such as bicyclists,
pedestrians, and motorcyclists. Idaho’s law
enforcement personnel will be participating in
the state’s first Attentive Driving
Mobilization, April 1-11, to help raise
awareness about the dangers of distracted
driving.
This effort is a part of the Idaho
Transportation Department Office of Highways
Safety’s “Just Drive Aware” campaign that
combines education awareness and enforcement of
Idaho’s traffic laws that apply to inattentive
driving. These laws include distractions such as
texting and failure-to-maintain lane, which
occur when a motorist chooses to not drive
attentively.
Bonners Ferry Police Department understands
driver distractions are not specific to cell
phone use. Anything that takes eyes off the
road, hands off the steering wheel, or mind off
driving is considered a distraction—visual,
manual and cognitive. Distractions include
navigation and entertainment systems, cell
phones, or more conventional distractions, such
as interacting with passengers, applying makeup,
or eating.
In 2014, there were 4,781 distracted driving
traffic crashes which resulted in 39 lives lost,
and 3,243 people injured. Seventy-nine percent
of fatal distracted driving crashes occurred on
rural roadways. During the years 2010-2014, 52
percent of the people killed in distracted
driving crashes in Idaho were not buckled-up.
If you’re driving, four simple things can
protect you:
• keep your hands on the wheel;
• keep your eyes on the road;
• keep your mind on driving (if you’re a
passenger, speak up if you think the driver is
distracted); and
• keep your seat belt fastened.
"Bonners Ferry Police Department believes that
people’s traffic safety behaviors can change
through education, awareness, and
high-visibility enforcement, bringing us towards
zero deaths on Idaho roadways,” said Chief Vic
Watson.
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