Berlin Police To Crack Down On Distracted Drivers

BERLIN, CT - The Berlin Police Department has announced the continuation of the “U DRIVE. U TEXT. U PAY.” campaign. The effort, along with the state Department of Transportation, is intended to crack down on drivers who text, talk on the phone or otherwise distract themselves while driving.

“Texting and driving is a public safety crisis. Our mission is to save lives and protect the public. Enforcing texting and driving laws is a critical priority for our department,” said Berlin Police Chief John Klett in a statement. “Starting August 1st, the community will see an increased and highly visible law enforcement presence on our roadways with a focus on safety. Our officers will be stopping and ticketing anyone who is endangering the public due to texting and driving. If you text and drive, you will pay.”

The campaign's first wave in April resulted in more than 10,000 citations being issued to motorists across the state. To sign up for free Berlin news alerts and more, click here.

In 2016, there were 3,450 distracted driving related deaths and in 2015 an estimated 391,000 were injured in distracted driving motor vehicle crashes nationally, according to a Berlin Police statement.

Image via Berlin Police