Distracted driving is any activity that diverts a person’s attention away from the primary task of driving. Distracted driving is a factor in 1 out of 4 crashes nationwide, and cell phone use and texting are leading causes of distracted driving. According to the MVA’s Maryland Highway Safety Office (MHSO), more than 28,000 people are injured annually on Maryland’s roads as a result of distracted driving. Maryland’s statewide program which runs April 8-16, 2015, supports the national distracted driving campaign and includes a combination of targeted advertising and high-visibility enforcement in an effort to change behavior and save lives. Law enforcement will aggressively enforce Maryland’s handheld cell phone and texting laws during Distracted Driving Awareness Month.
The Towson University Police Department wants to remind everyone that distractions come in many forms. Drivers can be distracted by
- other vehicle occupants
- other motorists
- pedestrians
- the radio
- doing their hair and make-up
- eating
The most prevalent form of distracted driving is cell phone use. In Maryland it is against the law for drivers to use hand held telephones while their vehicle is in motion and drivers are not allowed to send or receive text or electronic messages at any time while their vehicle is on the road. TUPD will be out this month to enforce and cite drivers violating these laws.
For more information, please contact Community Outreach Cpl. Kia Williams at kdwilliams@towson.edu or visit http://towardzerodeathsmd.com/
