Glen Cove Police Reminds Us of Distracted Driving Dangers

In preparation for the start of the school year, the Glen Cove Police Department is encouraging student drivers and parents to put their cell phones down and focus on the road. If not, you face dangerous consequences.

Glen Cove Police Chief William Whitton warns students and their parents of the repercussions distracted drivers face. More than eight people are killed and 1,161 injured in crashes that involve a distracted driver each day in the United States, according to the Center for Disease Control.

"The Glen Cove police force is on active surveillance each and every day to protect the public against distracted drivers,” Whitton said in a press release. “I have seen the harsh consequences of drivers who talk, text, email, Snapchat, tweet, video chat and play games while operating a motor vehicle and my message to everyone is simply, leave the phone alone when you are driving.”

The Glen Cove Police Department has issued 95 summonses to drivers for talking or texting on their cell and smartphones to date.

According to Chief Whitton, texting is by far the most dangerous form of distracted driving. Texting while driving takes your eyes off the road, your hands off the wheel and your mind off the driving. The penalty in Glen Cove for being convicted of texting while driving is currently five driver violation points. The Glen Cove Court will also fine you $150.00 plus $88.00 in surcharges if convicted.

About 10 percent of all drivers under the age of 20 who were involved in fatal car crashes were distracted at the time of the crash, according to a National Highway Traffic Administration survey.

“Time and time again research underscores the senseless loss of life or needless injuries to innocent people due to drivers who take their eyes off the road,” Spinello said.

Glen Cove looks to educate the community on the dangers of distracted driving to prevent future crashes. Glen Cove’s Emergency Medical Service conducted a drill to demonstrate the hazards of distracted driving in coordination with the Glen Cove Volunteer Fire Department and the Locust Valley Fire Departments as part of their National EMS Week activities.

“Too often driving is a multi-tasking event and distractions result in a fatal accident for the driver, passengers and/or pedestrians as the news reports on a frequent basis,” said Charles Valicenti, Glen Cove EMS chief.