Bel Air Police To Distracted Drivers: 'Beware'

BEL AIR, MD — Drivers in Bel Air, you've been warned. Police in town will be out in force looking for drivers who are not paying attention.

"If you're a distracted driver, beware: Our officers will be in covert positions throughout town on the search for violations this week," the Bel Air Police Department said in a statement on Monday.

Distracted driving is anything that takes a motorist's eyes off the road.

"Don't be that person that runs over a pedestrian on a sidewalk after you've been distracted by a text, or after reaching to pick up that French fry that just dropped onto the carpet in your new car," the Bel Air police said.

Officials noted that April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month. Federal health officials say that nine people are killed and more than 1,000 are injured by distracted drivers every single day in the U.S.

To raise awareness about the dangers of distracted driving, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has launched campaigns each April since 2014.

This year's initiative specifically targets 18 to 34-year-old drivers; officials say this age group is most likely to be involved in a distracted driving crash. The 2018 campaign is called "U Drive. U Text. U Pay."

In Maryland, texting and/or using a handheld phone are primary offenses that can result in someone being pulled over. "Jake's Law," which became a Maryland law in 2014, calls for a $5,000 fine and up to three years in prison for drivers who cause a serious or fatal crash while using a cellphone.

According to federal officials, women drivers with cell phones are more likely than men to be involved in fatal distracted driving crashes.

“Cell phones have a place in our lives, but not while driving,” National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Deputy Administrator Heidi King said in a statement. “Taking your eyes off the road for a moment is all it takes to cause a crash and change lives forever."

Said King: "Remember, no text or call is worth a life.”

Drivers talking on the phone can miss seeing 50 percent of things in their environment, including pedestrians and red lights, according to the National Safety Council.

To avoid distracted driving, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration offered these suggestions:

• Drivers — Turn off electronic devices and put them out of reach before driving.
• Passengers — Say something if a driver is using an electronic device. Offer to make the call or text for the driver yourself so the driver can pay full attention to the road.
• All in vehicles — Wear your seat belt, which is the best defense against unsafe drivers.
• Cyclists and pedestrians — Focus on surroundings, not on electronic devices.

File photo by Elizabeth Janney.