Stoneham Police Crack Down on Texting and Driving

Statement via the Stoneham Police

The Stoneham Police will partner with 203 eligible Massachusetts law enforcement agencies in the national ‘U Drive. U Text. U Pay.’ mobilization to crack down on distracted driving. Texting while driving is the highest crash risk of all forms of distracted driving. The campaign, which combines traditional and innovative enforcement strategies, begins on April 8 and continues through April 29. The initiative is funded by a grant administered by the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security’s Highway Safety Division (EOPSS/HSD) from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

Distracted driving is any activity that could divert a person's attention away from the primary task of driving. Texting while driving was outlawed in Massachusetts in 2010. Adult drivers who write, send, or read electronic messages or browse the Internet while driving face a $100 fine for a first offense – even if the vehicle is stopped in traffic. Teen drivers under 18 are entirely prohibited from using mobile phones and other electronic devices while driving, including to make phone calls, unless it is a specified emergency. The fine for a juvenile first offense is $100 and a 60 day license suspension in addition to completion of a driver attitudinal course.

These costly violations underscore the danger inherent in distracted driving. In 2014, across the United States, 32,675 people were killed in motor vehicle crashes. 3,179 people were killed involving distracted driving. An additional 431,000 were injured in motor vehicle crashes involving distracted drivers. “Distracted driving is a major problem nationally and in Massachusetts. If you drive and text, I hope your only consequence is to pay a fine.” said Lt. Stefanelli.

A 2013 study by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI) found that any activity that diverts a driver’s eyes from the road for two seconds or more, such as texting, increases crash risk by a factor of three. This level of impairment is similar to driving drunk, with a blood alcohol concentration of .08.

“Texting and driving requires motorists to take their eyes off the road, hands off the wheel, and mind off the task of driving. It creates the proverbial ‘perfect storm’ for a crash.” said Lt. Stefanelli.

Another chronic and dangerous problem is blocking intersections. Over the last several years, ‘gridlock’ has increased remarkably in Stoneham. Gridlock is when traffic does not clear before the light turns green for the opposing traffic. Massachusetts General Law Chapter 89 Section 9 makes this illegal and specifically states in part, ‘The driver of a motor vehicle shall not cross or enter an intersection, which it is unable to proceed through, without stopping and thereby blocking vehicles from travelling in a free direction. A green light is no defense to blocking the intersection. The driver must wait another cycle of the signal light, if necessary.’ “Gridlock leads to ripple effect traffic back-ups in other intersections, forces pedestrians out of the crosswalk and into travel lanes, adds to frustration and incidents of road rage, increases crashes and can delay emergency vehicles quick passage to answer emergency calls.” said Lt. Stefanelli.

For more information on distracted driving go to www.distraction.gov and www.enddd.gov.