Police again targeting distracted driving

What you need to know as campaign kicks off statewide

As COVID-19 rules ease and more people hit the road, police all over Connecticut are watching to make sure drivers aren’t falling back into bad cellphone habits.

Called “U drive. U text. U pay,” another wave of Connecticut’s anti-distracted driving efforts started Thursday and will continue throughout the month of April, which is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month.

The timing couldn’t be better, said Phyllis DiFiore, distracted driving program manager at the state Department of Transportation.

“I feel like now that things are starting to open up and people are being vaccinated, it’s a great time to remind people of the dangers of distracted driving,” she said.

What are police doing?: They are looking for drivers on their cellphones, pulling them over and giving them tickets.

How many police departments are doing this?: About 50 police agencies are participating, including the Connecticut State Police.

What exactly is illegal?: Connecticut law prohibits the use of any hand-held mobile electronic device while driving. Drivers who are 16 or 17 years of age may not use a cellphone at any time, even with a hands-free accessory.

What happens when someone gets pulled over?: The fine for a first offense is $150. Fines increase to $300 for the second offense and to $500 for three or more violations.

How can police tell if drivers are on their phones?:

Officers, or “spotters,” get to a higher position, such as by sitting in a tall truck or standing on a hill next to the road. The officers then look down into cars and relay information about violators over their police radios. The spotters usually hide so as not to be seen and often are creative: A Stamford sergeant once posed as a surveyor to avoid detection.

Whyisthis soimportant? Don’t police have better things to do?: Eleven people died in Connecticut in 2019 as a result of distracted driving. More than 6,600 crashes in the state that year were attributed to distracted driving as well.

“Those fatalities ranked Connecticut 40th in the nation in distracted-driving fatalities, which indicates that the state’s crackdown on distracted driving may be making a difference,” said Amy Parmenter, spokeswoman for AAA in Greater Hartford. “Still, that is little consolation to the friends and families of those impacted by the loss so we must continue to be vigilant.”

Who pays for the stepped-up enforcement?:

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reimburses the participating towns and cities for 100% of the costs, DiFiore said.

Since hands-free is legal, it must be safe, right?:

Not necessarily. Even if you use a phone legally, such as through your car’s voice-to-text system, your mind’s not on the road — including after you first hang up, Parmenter said.

In a study by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, researchers found drivers can experience a “hangover effect” where the mind stays distracted for up to 27 seconds after using smartphones or voice-to-text systems to send texts, make phone calls or update social media.

“Even if drivers perform some of these tasks while parked, or stopped at a red light, once you start moving, and even after you stop using the technology, your mind is still not fully focused on the task of driving for up to 27 seconds,” Parmenter said. “That’s a long time.”

Is it OKtouseacellphonewhenstoppedata red light?: No, you can still get a ticket if you have the phone in your hand while stopped at a red light. You still are operating a vehicle. DiFiore suggests that if you don’t have a hands-free device, pull into a parking lot and put the car in park before you pick up the phone.

What are some tips to avoid using a cellphone while driving?: AAA’s Parmenter has suggestions:

Put the phone away, out of sight to prevent temptation.

Know where you’re going. If you’re using a navigational system, program the destination before you start to drive.

Pull over to a safe place and stop the car if you must make a call or text someone.

Ask passengers to help with navigation or cellphone use.

Activate the “Do Not Disturb” feature on iPhones or Androids to prevent calls from coming in while you’re driving.