Distracted-driving sting in Montgomery Co. (MD) snags 65 drivers, more to come (1 Viewer)

[trident]

Good.  Hopefully more states will do this.

https://wtop.com/montgomery-county/2018/04/distracted-driving-sting-montgomery-co-snags-65-drivers-come/


WASHINGTON — In just under two hours at the busy Bethesda, Maryland, intersection of River and Goldsboro roads, 65 drivers had a rough start to their Wednesday morning: They were pulled over for distracted driving.

It’s illegal to drive while using a phone, yet it causes dozens of accidents across the region each day. To fight that, Montgomery County is cracking down on distracted drivers and detailing what kind of ticket they could face.

“We do it randomly in different locations. We have somebody hold the sign and we put out a signboard trailer or something like that to let people know. It’s against the law. If we see people doing it, we’re going to write them for it,” Sgt. Phillip Chapin with Montgomery County police said of ticketing.

Chapin said it’s one of many random distracted-driving stings lined up as the county doubles down on the continuing problem. The “Stay Alert, Stay Alive” campaign is geared at walkers and bikers, too, which county leaders plan to announce Thursday.

Regardless of where drivers are pulled over in Maryland, the state-required fines are the same for distracted driving.

“It’s $83 and if the driver is using their hands and using a handheld telephone while the vehicle is in motion. The other fine is $70 at one point if the driver is writing, reading or sending an electronic message while the motor vehicle is in the roadway,” Chapin said.

So, if drivers are in standstill in traffic, even reading their phone is breaking the law.

“It’s a lot cheaper to go buy a Bluetooth device or even hook up their phone,” Chapin said. “Because a lot of people we stop don’t even have their phones hooked up to the Bluetooth in their car.”

 

[RUSF18]

The Jersey town I grew up in was the first in the state to ban cell phone use while driving, and happened to do it the year I got my license. I remember people freaking the hell out over it. 

I'll admit that over the years I would occasionally send a text or something when I considered it "safe" but once I had a kid, I quit cold turkey. 

 

[PIK95]

Bluetooth sucks.  I only text when stopped at red lights.

 

[otb_lifer]

howzabout the ladies who "do their face" while driving?

 

[belljr]

Even using bluetooth - I use my phone to select the person I'm calling     

 

[Murph]

howzabout the ladies who "do their face" while driving?

This happened to me about ten years ago but I still remember it for the sheer ridiculousness. I'm a pedestrian waiting to cross the street. Just missed the walk signal. Two cars waiting at the light. Light turns green; car doesn't go. I look and see a woman doing her make-up. I brace myself for the car behind to start honking but hear nothing. Look to see another woman doing her make-up. So I went ahead and safely crossed. For all I know they're still both sitting there.

 

[Koya]

Generally it's hard to argue with these laws, but curious as to how 'maps' and directions are treated - I suppose it's legal to read/touch the phone if it's say docked somehow? When there is say a route change option you need to accept or decline?

Which leads me to Waze, which seems to promote dangerous activity as the 3-5 seconds it takes to alert others to an accident etc seems a fair amount of distraction and not sure how that can be done via bluetooth