Montgomery Cops Kick Off Distracted Driving Crackdown Initiative

BETHESDA, MD — The Montgomery County Police Department kicks off its first countywide distracted driving enforcement effort of 2020 on Friday, Feb. 14.

The program, which will be implemented in conjunction with Maryland State Police, will involve officers from all six county police districts and mostly focus on areas with "known high crash risks," officials said in a statement.

"Sending or reading a text message takes your eyes off the road for about five seconds — long enough to cover a football field while driving at 55 miles per hour," said Wade Holland, Montgomery County's Vision Zero Initiative coordinator. "Distracted drivers are a danger not only to themselves, but also to pedestrians and cyclists. We try many ways to get this message to drivers. Enforcement programs send the message very loudly."

Distracted driving crashes injure or kill about 27,000 people in Maryland each year, according to police.

Holland said that distractions are not worth the risk and urged motorists to keep their eyes on the road at all times.

"One out of every two car crashes in Montgomery County involves some type of distraction," Holland said. "Driving is a serious responsibility and requires your full attention. No call or message is worth risking your safety and everyone else on or crossing the roadway."

Montgomery County officials encourage drivers to do the following:

• Leave cell phones in the glovebox to eliminate distractions and temptations
• Consider enabling "Do Not Disturb" mode on your cell phone before getting behind the wheel
• If you're a passenger in a car and the driver is distracted, speak up
• Assign a passenger to be "designated texter," so the driver is not distracted

In the state of Maryland, the penalties for driving while holding a cellphone can include an $83 fine for the first offense, a $140 fine for the second offense, and $160 for the third and subsequent offenses.

Writing, sending, or reading a text or electronic message while driving can cost you $70 and one point on your license.

If you cause serious injury or death while talking or texting while driving, you can get a prison sentence of up to three years and a fine up to $5,000.