Local Crackdowns Look to Limit Dangerous Driving Behaviors

Jan 22
08:53

2013

Paul E Lee

Paul E Lee

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Local law enforcement agencies are cracking down on impaired and distracted driving in an effort to finally influence drivers to cease such dangerous driving behaviors.

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In an effort to limit accidents caused by impaired and distracted driving,Local Crackdowns Look to Limit Dangerous Driving Behaviors  Articles local law enforcement agencies in two San Diego cities held weekend campaigns specifically targeting dangerous driving behaviors like talking and texting behind the wheel and driving drunk. In Chula Vista, local police held a weekend lookout called the “Distracted Driving Operation”, looking for drivers doing anything behind the wheel other than focusing on the road ahead, while officers in Pacific Beach held a DUI checkpoint to catch drivers under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

During the Chula Vista PD’s four hour patrol, a total of 45 motorists were pulled over for potentially distracted behavior. 29 were issued citations for driving while talking on hand-held phones and another six were cited for texting while driving. Four others were fined for various vehicle code violations, two for driving with a suspended license, and another for having no license at all. Results showed that even as awareness of the dangers of distracted driving has risen substantially in recent months, drivers are continuing to forgo the warnings.

Nationwide survey results have long confirmed these results, as studies from research firms like Harris Interactive have uncovered that a large majority of drivers acknowledge the dangers of distracted driving, yet fiddle with their cell phones nonetheless. For a more substantial impact to be made, more efforts like those from the Chula Vista PD are needed to reinforce that using your phone behind the wheel is not only a serious safety risk, in many states it is illegal.

Despite the continued prevalence of distracted driving behaviors in their city, Chula Vista police were still pleased to have prevented behaviors that could have led to damaging and even fatal accidents. "This was considered a successful Distracted Driving Operation," said Officer Alicia Chudy, who was on the night’s patrol. "The Chula Vista Police Department is continuing its efforts to keep our community safe by detecting and deterring drivers from talking and texting on their cellphones." While law makers and law enforcement agencies continue to drive the dangers of distracted driving home, catching motorists in the act before they have the chance to cause an accident is the next best thing for road safety.

Though cell phone usage is a major point of emphasis when battling distracted driving, it is far from the only danger. "Please remember that talking and texting are not only the only distractions while driving. Eating, drinking, use of GPS, MP3 players and other devices, reading maps, books or magazines, grooming, animals and getting too involved with your passengers can distract a driver and can cause collisions," Chudy added. Anything that takes your focus off the road ahead has the potential to create an accident situation that inflicts serious harm onto you or those around you on the road.

In Pacific Beach, local police apprehended a dozen drivers for impaired driving, having screened more than 470 motorists in a four hour window. A total of 24 drivers were detained for sobriety tests, which half failed. 11 vehicles were impounded as a result, and another driver was arrested for public intoxication. “The message is simple,” said San Diego Police Officer Mark McCullough in a press release announcing the results of the checkpoint. “Drive sober, or get pulled over. Driving and alcohol do not mix. If you plan to consume alcohol, you should also plan not to get behind the wheel of a vehicle or ride a motorcycle.”

Funding for the two campaigns was provided by the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Organization. In funding outings like these, state and federal authorities are hopeful that drivers will finally begin to understand the troubles they may find themselves in by driving under the influence or taking their focus off the task of driving.