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During the distracted driving detail, police officers statewide will be cracking down on motorists who text, talk or use a handheld mobile device while driving.
The campaign is scheduled to run from Thursday, Aug. 1 through Thursday, Aug. 15. This is the fifth year the state has participated.
According to the Department of Transportation, during the first wave of the campaign in April, more than 10,000 citations were issued to motorists who “chose to ignore Connecticut’s distracted driving laws,” Commissioner Joseph Giulietti said.
During the second wave, there will be specific patrols “aimed at saving lives and protecting the public.” In total, more than 50 local and state law enforcement agencies will be participating in the campaign.
Distracted driving has been on the rise in the past decade, causing numerous crashes and deaths nationwide.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, between 2012 and 2017, nearly 20,000 people died in crashes involving a distracted driver.
There were 3,166 people killed in motor vehicle crashes involving distracted drivers in 2017, a 9 percent decrease in distracted driving fatalities from 2016 to 2017. Since 2015, nearly 33,000 crashes in Connecticut have involved a distraction - resulting in 45 fatal crashes.
Fines in Connecticut for violators of distracted driving laws will face a first-time fine of $150, which increases to $300 for a second offense and $500 for any offenses thereafter.
“Too many drivers are ignoring their responsibilities behind the wheel,” Giulietti stated. “Starting Aug. 1, the community will see an increased and highly visible law enforcement presence on our roadways as officers will be stopping and ticketing anyone who is texting and driving.”
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