‘Put the Phone Away or Pay’ Warns Oregon Police Targeting Distracted Drivers This Month
ASHLAND, Ore. — Put the Phone Away or Pay is the slogan of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) campaign during its Distracted Driving Awareness Month in April.
Source: NHTSA Traffic Safety Facts : Driver Electronic Device Use in 2022 and 2023 (NOPUS)
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Ashland Police Department, together with other law enforcement agencies, will be working with the NHTSA to enforce no texting and other distracted driving laws.
3,308 People Died and 289,310 Were Injured While Distracted and Driving
In 2022, 3,308 people died and a further 289,310 people were injured in distracted driving accidents, according to the NHTSA. However, the federal government agency believes those figures to be far higher due to limitations on data collection.
Source: NHTSA Traffic Safety Facts : Distracted Driving 2022 (FARS)
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The NHTSA says distracted driving is a leading cause of road accidents, blaming cell phone use as the main distraction.
‘Officers will be stopping and ticketing anyone who is caught texting and driving,’ warns the NHTSA, adding that violations can be costly.
Penalties are Stiff
An accident-free first offense is a Class B violation with a maximum fine of $1,000.
| Measure | Count | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Crashes involving a distracted driver | 26,264 | All ages, 2017 to 2021 |
| Fatalities in those crashes | 194 | All ages, 2017 to 2021 |
| Injuries in those crashes | 24,264 | All ages, 2017 to 2021 |
| Convictions for using a mobile electronic device | 60,519 | Total, 2017 to 2021 |
| 2017 convictions | 8,748 | ODOT tally |
| 2018 convictions | 13,086 | ODOT tally |
| 2019 convictions | 16,668 | ODOT tally |
| 2020 convictions | 10,255 | ODOT tally |
| 2021 convictions | 11,762 | ODOT tally |
A second offense, or if the first offense contributes to a crash, is a Class A violation with a maximum fine of $2,000.
A third violation within 10 years is classified as a Class B misdemeanor, carrying a potential penalty of up to $2,500 in fines and a jail term of up to six months.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reminds drivers to keep their phones out of reach while driving and follow these important safety guidelines:
If you are expecting an important message or must send one urgently, safely pull over and park your vehicle before using your phone.
Ask a passenger to be your ‘designated texter’ and allow them access to respond to calls or messages on your phone.
Avoid using social media, including scrolling or messaging, while operating a vehicle.
For more information, visit www.nhtsa.gov/campaign/distracted-driving.
My question is. Are they going to put the phone away also? Cops get in wrecks also. There have been many instances of this. One such incident that I believe was cell phone related happened In TX last year. Officer side swiped a parked Semi that was on the left hand side of the road. He paid dearly as it killed him. The cause of accident wasn’t clear in the news or any media but how can an experienced cop who has gone through years of aggressive driver training hit a properly parked truck pulled off the interstate if he wasn’t distracted? I see cops all the time in Medford, Bend, Kfalls, etc driving on the or even texting. Will they be ceasing this behavior during this period?????