Distracted driver and seat belt emphasis patrols conducted in January

 

Last updated 1/8/2015 at 8:24am



SPOKANE COUNTY — Starting January 2015 the Spokane County Target Zero Task Force will be sponsoring monthly distracted driving and seat belt emphasis patrols in Spokane County. As per the governor’s Strategic Highway Safety Plan, Target Zero, the task force is committed to improving the safety of our roadways by education and enforcement.  

In 2013, researchers at the UW/Harborview conducted the first ever observations of driver texting and cell phone use in Washington state. They found out that 14.5 percent of Spokane County drivers were distracted (texting or talking on a cell phone). Among the distracted drivers in Spokane County, 67 percent were texting and only 6 percent were using a hands-free device. 

Distracted driving is impaired driving. Using a handheld phone is the equivalent of driving with a blood alcohol level of 0.08. Texting is even more dangerous, with a crash risk higher than driving with a blood alcohol level of 0.19. Drivers know texting and talking while driving is against the law. However in a recent study, nearly one out of every 10 drivers were talking or texting. 

After the primary seat belt law took effect in June 2002 seat belt violations initially increased and then the seat belt use rate increased. This model of high visibility enforcement has proven to change behaviors and is now being applied to distracted driving. Texting and cell phone usage is aggravating to so many motorists and it remains a growing public health and traffic safety issue. Active enforcement is key to reducing distracted driving.

That is why, Spokane County motorist can expect to see extra monthly distracted driving and seat belt patrols. The Airway Heights Police Department, Eastern Washington University Police Department, Cheney Police Department, Spokane County Sheriff’s Office, Spokane Police Department and the Spokane Valley Police Department will be participating in these extra patrols.

 

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