FMPD launches distracted driving campaign

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BY PCC STAFF

FORT MADISON - On April 8, 2021, in support of the annual U-Drive, U-Text, You Pay, the Fort Madison Police Department will launch its second Connect to Disconnect distracted driving initiative.  This 4-hour, anti-distracted driving awareness kickoff event is aimed to focus on attention on visible texting and cell phone law enforcement.

Everyone know it is dangerous to text and drive, however we still see drivers on the phone every day.  We would rather someone learn a lesson from a citation than from a crash.

According to the U.S. Dept. of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration between 2012 and 2019, 26,004 people died in crashes involving distracted drivers. In 2019, there were 3,142 people killed and an estimated 424,000 injured in motor vehicle crashes involving distracted drivers.  There were also 566 pedestrians and bicyclists killed in crashes involving a distracted driver.  Nine percent of fatal crashes, 15% of injury crashes, and 14% of all police-reported motor vehicle traffic crashes in 2019 were reported as crashes in which a driver was distracted at the time of the crash.

The goals of this enforcement are to demonstrate a nationwide commitment to enforcing cell phone and texting bans and to reduce traffic crashes caused by distracted drivers, ultimately preventing injuries and deaths associated with cell phone use and texting while driving.

Campaign, distracted driving, enforcement, fort madison, Pen City Current, police

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