Distracted Driving Crackdown In Howard County Announced

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — Drivers who are paying attention to their phones and not the road may be in for flashing lights in the rear view. While it is always illegal to use a handheld cell phone while driving, this month Howard County police will focus on distracted driving enforcement. That means if you aren't paying attention, chances are a police officer will be!

“Drivers who are distracted by their phones pose a serious danger to themselves, other motorists and pedestrians,” Howard County Police Chief Lisa Myers said in a statement. “No text, call or email is that important. Park the phone before you drive.”

Distracted driving is a factor in more than half of all crashes in Maryland, according to the Maryland Highway Safety Office. It contributes to 58 percent of all crashes in the state, kills 185 people each year and injures more than 27,000 people on Maryland roads.

April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month, and law enforcement agencies across Maryland will be looking out for and talking with drivers about the danger of distracted driving.

Distracted driving is defined as any activity that diverts attention from driving, including talking or texting on the phone; eating and drinking; and adjusting the stereo, entertainment or navigation systems, according to the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration.

In Maryland, penalties for distracted driving range from fines to jail time.

Penalties For Distracted Driving:

• $70 and one point on your license
• $110 and three points if crash is involved
• $83 for handheld cell use, first offense
• $140 for handheld cell use, second offense
• $160 for handheld cell use, third offense
• Up to 3 years in jail and up to $5,000 for causing serious injury/death while using handheld cell phone
• Drivers under the age of 18 may have their license suspended

Texters take their eyes off the road for an average of 5 seconds, which — at 55 mph — would be the equivalent of driving while blindfolded for the length of a football field, transportation officials say.

To curb distracted driving, the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration Highway Safety Office is promoting a “Park the Phone” campaign statewide, and Howard County is participating.

Here are the messages of the "Park the Phone" campaign:

• Park your phone before you drive — put it away.
• Have a designated texter; ask a passenger to send or read text messages for you.
• Be a responsible passenger and speak out if the driver is using the phone.
• Wear your seat belt.