Spring has sprung, and along with all the warming weather an increase in traffic is almost a certainty over the next few months. As conditions outside improve many motorists will be driving further and more frequently on Long Island and around the nation; unfortunately, the rising number of cars on the road also means there is a rising potential for collisions.
In order to combat the dangers of driving, and in recognition of National Distracted Driving Awareness Month, Governor Cuomo has announced Operation Hang Up, a statewide law enforcement effort to crackdown on distracted motorists who use their cellphones while driving.
The campaign, which began on April 6th and will continue through the 10th, increases the number of state police in both marked an unmarked cars who will be looking for drivers using handheld devices while on the road.
"Distracted driving is dangerous and illegal," said Cuomo, "and with this crackdown we are once again sending the message that making calls or texting behind the wheel will not be tolerated in New York."
"Cell phone use and texting are responsible for a significant proportion of traffic crashes, injuries and deaths," added New York State Police Superintendent George P. Beach II. "If you're texting, you're not driving. While the New York State Police enforces New York’s handheld cell phone and electronic device laws at all times, Troopers will crack down on violators during the Operation Hang-Up campaign."
Data from New York State records shows that while the number of total tickets issued annually for cell phone usage has actually gone down this decade, the number of tickets for texting while driving has risen dramatically, jumping from just over 9,000 tickets in 2011 to roughly 92,000 in 2016. An increase in police attentiveness on the subject this weekend has the potential to further that trend–the same campaign saw 18,000 total tickets and over 2,000 distracted driving tickets issued last year.
"State Police and local law enforcement will be out in force to ensure our roadways are safe, and I urge all drivers to act responsibly and put their devices down to prevent tragedy and heartbreak," Cuomo said.
The ramped up patrol efforts seek to prevent and discourage poor driving practices which can have potentially fatal consequences.
"One call or one text can lead to one horrible mistake on the road, which in turn can have lifelong repercussions for motorists, cyclists or pedestrians," said DMV Executive Deputy Commissioner Terri Egansaid.
There are many dangers on the road, and cellphone use is only one contributing factor. Other forms of distracted driving can include eating while driving, adjusting stereo or GPS devices, and even having pets in the car.
New Hyde Park-base law firm the Law Office of Cohen & Jaffe has raised concerns that potential changes in the trucking industry could also soon contribute to highway dangers. Industry advocates have pushed for deregulations that would cut limits on how many hours truckers can spend behind the wheel as well as how fast they can drive.
The firm fears that an increase in fatigued drivers could significantly increase the risk of accidents involving large trucks. Coupled with the rising presence of mobile devices, a road replete with distracted drivers and tired truckers could prove quite hazardous. NHTSA data shows that in 2015 3,477 people will killed nationwide as a result of distracted driving and 391,000 more were injured.
To help raise awareness of the dangers of distracted driving, the Governor's Traffic Safety Committee also released a Public Service Announcement highlighting the importance of focusing on the road while driving.
Under current New York State law, drivers can be fined between $50 and $200 for violating distracted driving laws. A second offense can cost up to $250, and a third increases the penalty for $450.
"Through enforcement and awareness campaigns such as Operation Hang Up, New York continues to make progress in combating distracted driving," Egansaid said. "Our law enforcement officers are second to none, and I thank them for their continued efforts to enforce New York’s traffic safety laws every day of the year."
[Source: Governor Cuomo, Law Office of Cohen & Jaffe]