Distracted Drivers, You're on Notice in Meriden

MERIDEN, CT - The local police department will launch a special enforcement detail beginning April 4 to catch distracted drivers, officials announced.

With a grant from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the Meriden police force will add extra patrols in April and for two weeks in August to catch drivers using cell phones or other devices while behind the wheel.

The April operation will run from the fourth through the 30th, and the August effort will run from the third through the 16th.

"The Meriden Police will pay special attention to our school areas because of the large number of pedestrian traffic before and after school," said Lt. Thomas Cossette in a statement.

Additionally, the details also will focus on East Main, West Main and Broad streets, which also are heavily traveled.

Using cell phones or other devices while driving can decrease drivers' reaction times by 30 percent to 50 percent, according research provided by Meriden police.