March 23, 2012 Numerous studies have concluded that driving while distracted can be as dangerous as driving drunk. In fact, a traffic supervisor for the New York State Police (NYSP), Sgt. Dan Larkin, says that the activity is responsible for killing nearly 5,000 in the U.S. every year and injuring hundreds of thousands of others. According to YNN News, the NYSP is using every means at its disposal to stop drivers from texting and talking on cellphones while behind the wheel. The first step to eliminating the problem was state law makers making it a primary offense for drivers to be pulled over for using a handheld device while behind the wheel. Now, troopers are using inconspicuous, unmarked vehicles to monitor traffic to catch drivers on phones. The cars are called CITE vehicles, short for Concealed Identity Traffic Enforcement vehicles, and the department plans to put about 40 of the units on state roads this year alone. One trooper stated, "The more that we can educate society, the more they start to realize that it does make a difference. With less fatalities and less accidents, I think people will begin to accept it more. That it's being done for a reason." The Albany Car Accident Lawyers with William Mattar Injury Lawyers couldn't agree with him more and ask that we all do our part to keep New York highways safe by putting our phones down while driving.
New York State Police Cracking Down On Distracted Drivers