Distracted Drivers Targeted, 29 Cited For Cellphone Use

STONINGTON, CT—In a two-week period, police say they handed out 29 citations to drivers using cellphones as part of a distracted driving initiative.

The Stonington Police Department participated in the statewide "U Drive, U Text, U Pay" effort funded by the state Department of Transportation's Highway Safety Office and the National Highway Traffic Administration.

The U Drive, U Text, U Pay initiative, which began Aug. 1 and ended Aug. 15, is in its fifth year.

“Too many drivers are ignoring their responsibilities behind the wheel,” DOT commissioner Joseph Giulietti was quoted as saying in a press release.

“Starting August 1, the community will see an increased and highly visible law enforcement presence on our roadways as officers will be stopping and ticketing anyone who is texting and driving.”

During the first wave of the campaign in April 2019, more than 10,000 citations were issued to motorists who "chose to ignore Connecticut's distracted driving laws,” Giulietti said in a statement.

The second phase of this two-part campaign will also have special patrols aimed at saving lives and protecting the public. More than 50 law enforcement agencies, both state and local police, who were previously involved in the April 2019 campaign, will again be participating.

According to the state DOT, over the past decade, distracted driving has become one of the leading causes of vehicle crashes on our nation’s roads. According to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, between 2012-2017, nearly 20,000 people died in crashes involving a distracted driver. In fact, there were 3,166 people killed in motor vehicle crashes involving distracted drivers in 2017. While this represents a 9 percent decrease in distracted driving fatalities from 2016 to 2017.

Since 2015, nearly 33,000 crashes in Connecticut have involved a distraction - resulting in 45 fatal crashes.

Fines in Connecticut for violations begin at $150 for a first offense, increase to $300 for a second offense, and are $500 for subsequent violations.