Distracted driving initiative nabs 19 violators
Delaware State Police Sgt. Tony Mendez has seen plenty of accidents in his career, including fatalities. Many were a direct result of distracted driving or not using a seatbelt.
In an attempt to reduce fatalities, state police and the Office of Highway Safety joined forces with a series of statewide enforcement initiatives using unconventional vehicles. The last of four initiatives was held in the Lewes area March 16.
During mid-afternoon, the area targeted was secondary roadways. Perched above other drivers in a large Delaware Department of Transportation truck, Mendez spotted drivers violating the hand-held cellphone law in effect since 2011, and those not using a seatbelt. Troopers in unmarked vehicles waited on the side of the road; once a violation was observed by Mendez, he radioed on a closed frequency to waiting troopers who were provided with a description of the vehicle and operator, along with a description of the violation.
Details of the violation, car type, license, violators description and time are recorded in the event the case is contested later.
“Most of the drivers admit they are on their phones or forgot to buckle up - some get angry,” Mendez said. The officer will explain about the spotter vehicle and will continue with the traffic stop.
Each stop takes 10 to 15 minutes. “Out-of-state drivers take a little longer. Delaware licenses are automatically populated with this system,” said Cpl. Dustin Yencer. Officers are equipped with on-person devices that record the entire stop and are transmitted to the vehicle. An onboard computer system with a printer makes the stop convenient.
During the four-hour initiative, 19 citations were issued. Those included nine cellphone violations, eight seatbelt and one child restraint violation, and a civil violation for possession of marijuana.
“Distracted driving is an ever-growing problem, and the hope is that through enforcement initiatives along with educational opportunities, we can send the message that texting/talking while driving is not only illegal but can be deadly,” said spokeswoman Master Cpl. Melissa Jaffe. Distracted driving while using personal electronic devices is a very dangerous behavior that continues to make area roadways less safe, she said.
“We have a zero-tolerance policy for distracted driving,” said Cynthia Cavett of OHS. “State police and OHS are stepping up enforcement and education for distracted driving through traditional and nontraditional projects. April is National Distracted Driving Awareness month,” she said.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 3,450 people were killed across the country in motor vehicle crashes involving distracted drivers in 2016. Nationally and in Delaware, distracted driving fatalities have been trending upward since 2012. Texting while driving has become an especially problematic trend among millennials, 16 to 24 years old, who have been observed using handheld electronic devices while driving at higher rates than older drivers since 2007.
For more information about the Delaware Office of Highway Safety, go to ohs.delaware.gov.
Fines for violations:
Hand-held device law: Drivers caught using a hand-held device will be fined $100 for their first offense. Subsequent offenses will be no less than $200 and no more than $300.
Delaware Seat Belt Law: The driver will receive an $83.50 fine (plus court costs) for the failure of anyone in the vehicle to buckle up.
Everyone in the vehicle, including backseat passengers and children, must wear seat belts properly. Lap and shoulder belts must be worn and shoulder belts must not be placed behind the back or under the arm.
