State police focus on distracted driving

Illinois State Police District 22 is planning to conduct distracted driving enforcement program patrols in Union County during September.

Plans for the patrols were announced by Capt. Nathan Douglas, who is the commander of District 22. 

The patrols will allow the state police to focus on distracted driving laws to prevent traffic deaths and serious injury crashes.

The state police noted that distractions can increase a driver’s risk of being in an accident and shared the following information:

Eating or drinking (non-alcoholic beverages) increases the risk by three times. Sending a text message increases the risk by four times.

Reaching for an object increases the risk by eight times. Reading a text message can take a driver’s eyes off the road for an average of five seconds.

Officers will be on the lookout for drivers who disobey Illinois’ distracted driving laws, including:

All drivers are prohibited from reading, sending, or receiving text messages or communication and from browsing the internet.

All drivers are prohibited from using handheld electronic communication devices.

Drivers under the age of 19 are prohibited from using any cellphone, even hands-free.

All drivers are prohibited from using any cellphone, even hands-free, while in school speed zones and work zones.

School bus drivers are not permitted to use any type of cellphone, even hands-free.

It is illegal to use a cellphone or take photos or videos on wireless devices when driving within 500 feet of an emergency scene.

The campaign is made possible by traffic safety funds administered by the Illinois Department of Transportation.