From October 15, 2021 to October 31, 2021 the Woodbridge Police Department will be taking part in a statewide initiative to combat distracted driving. Members of our Department will be concentrating enforcement efforts on distracted driving in an attempt to increase awareness and continue to protect the motoring public.
Texting and driving are the most dangerous forms of distracted driving, and beginning October 1, 2021, it is about to get more expensive.
Starting October 1, 2021, the fines for driving while distracted are:
- $200 for 1st violation, offenders are fined (was previously $150)
- $375 for a 2nd violation, offenders are fine (was previously $300)
- $625 for a 3rd or subsequent violation, offenders are fined $ (was formerly $500)
Over the past decade, distracted driving has become one of the leading causes of vehicle crashes on our nation’s roads. At any given moment across America, approximately 660,000 drivers are using or manipulating electronic devices while driving, a number that has held steady for more than a decade. In Connecticut in 2020, there were nearly 5,000 crashes attributed to distracted driving. Connecticut law prohibits the use of any hand-held mobile electronic device while operating a motor vehicle. Drivers who are 16 or 17 years of age are prohibited from using a cell phone or mobile device at any time, even with a hands-free accessory.
The Woodbridge Police Department suggest the following safety tips:
- If you are expecting a text message or need to send one, pull over and park your car in a safe location. Once you are safely off the road and parked, it is safe to text.
- Ask your passenger to be your "designated texter." Allow them access to your phone to respond to calls or messages.
- Do not engage in social media scrolling or messaging while driving.
- Cell phone use is habit-forming. Struggling to not text and drive? Activate your phone's "Do Not Disturb" feature, or put your phone in the trunk, glove box, or back seat of your vehicle until you arrive at your destination.
The Woodbridge Police Department along with the State of Connecticut’s Department of Transportation urge you to put your phone down when you get behind the wheel.
For more information, visit www.distraction.gov