July 24, 2013 Research determined nine out of 10 motorists recognize the risks of using a cellphone while driving, yet seven out of 10 drivers admit to engaging in the behavior anyway. Furthermore, another 33 percent of those surveyed admitted to sending and receiving text messages. These findings have sparked a move by troopers with the New York State Police to launch a campaign aimed at preventing Distracted Driving Accidents. Troopers are using new laws and equipment to catch motorists using their phones behind the wheel. According to an article from the Huffington Post, New York prohibits any motorist from using a phone while driving. They are one of only 11 states to adopt this stringent standard. The state also just increased the penalties for using a phone while driving. Catching motorists in the act is now easier for troopers too. With the repeal of a law banning unmarked vehicles, state police are now using vehicles that sit high on the road and have low-profile emergency lights to blend into traffic and catch more distracted drivers in the act. The efforts are paying off too, considering more than 30,000 distracted driving citations were issued last year, a 234 percent increase from 2011. The Buffalo Personal Injury Lawyers with William Mattar Law Offices applaud the efforts made to keep the state’s roads safe, and they encourage motorists to do their part by putting their phones down while driving.
New York State Police Work to Prevent Distracted Driving Accidents