'Phone In One Hand, Ticket In The Other': Oswego Police

OSWEGO, IL —April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month across the nation, and the Oswego Police Department (OPD) is joining with transportation and law enforcement agencies to remind motorists about the dangers of driving while looking at their phone.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, a total of 26,004 people died in U.S. crashes involving a distracted driver between 2012 and 2019.

That's why the OPD said there will be an increased effort by law enforcement this month to hand out distracted driving violations. The campaign has adopted the slogan: "phone in one hand, ticket in the other."

"It has become all too common to see people driving down the road while looking at their phones," Police Chief Jeff Burgner said. "People know texting and driving is both dangerous and illegal, but they do it anyway, putting themselves and others at risk. During April, you will see increased law enforcement efforts as officers stop and ticket anyone who violates distracted driving and other Illinois motor vehicle laws."

In support of distracted driver campaign, the OPD has partnered with the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), the Illinois State Police and more than 200 local law enforcement agencies around Illinois. The campaign is administered by IDOT with federal traffic safety funds.