News
Law enforcement cracking down on distracted drivers
Posted: Mar 29, 2012 7:53 PM by Jacqui Heinrich
Updated: Mar 29, 2012 8:56 PM
Statistics out from the National Highway Safety Administration show distracted drivers are a growing problem on the roads.
More than 6,000 people die each year from crashes involving distractions behind the wheel; whether it's a cell phone, a navigation device, or an iPod, electronics are taking eyes off the roads. The numbers have prompted the National Safety Transportation Board to call for a ban on these devices, and local law enforcement is already cracking down on unsafe drivers. "The Colorado Springs Police Department, the El Paso County Sheriff's Office, and many law enforcement agencies along with State Patrol throughout Colorado are really concentrating on distraction and distracted driving," Maile Gray of Drive Smart Colorado says.
The numbers show that teens are 4 times more likely to die in a car crash than adults; they text about a quarter of the time they're behind the wheel. They're not the only ones to blame, though- about 75% of all Americans report sometimes using their cell phones while driving.
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