Waltham Police Beef Up Distracted Driving Patrols

WALTHAM, MA – Don't text and drive, or you may see flashing lights in your rearview next month. The Waltham Police Department said Tuesday it will begin expanding patrols looking for distracted drivers, with an emphasis on those tapping away at their cell phones.

The extra patrols are funded by the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security and will specifically be on the lookout for distracted drivers.

What is distracted driving? Essentially, anything that causes you to take your eyes off the road.

This includes:

• Texting

• Using a cell phone or smartphone

• Eating and drinking

• Talking to passengers

• Grooming

• Reading, including maps

• Using a navigation system

• Watching a video

• Adjusting a radio, CD player, or MP3 player

Not all of these are primary offenses for which you can be stopped, the department said, but it stressed that they are still unsafe.

Texting, however, is a big no-no. Drivers may be stopped and fined for texting, using apps or browsing the internet on their smartphones.