Police Cracking Down on Distracted Driving Along Route 3
Marked and unmarked police vehicles will be looking out for texters, eaters and more on Route 3 in Crofton.
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Anne Arundel County police are attempting to crack down on distracted driving throughout the area by initiating special enforcement practices along Route 3 in Crofton, according to a press release.
In an effort called “Operation Eagle,” police are seeking to address “the growing problem of distracted driving,” and addressing it in its various forms, such as texting, handling pets or eating while driving, the release stated.
“Distracted driving is described as any activity that could divert a person’s attention away from the primary task of driving,” according to the release. “The behavior of texting while driving has shown to be particularly dangerous as it causes drivers to take their eyes off of the road more than other forms of distracted driving.”
Police will begin conducting special enforcement efforts on Route 2 in Edgewater, Parole, near Ordnance Road in Glen Burnie, between Route 50 and Route 100, and along Route 3 in the Crofton area starting Friday, according to the release.
Officers will conduct the initiative during two specific days of enforcement waves each month using both marked and unmarked vehicles. Police will also distribute handouts about the dangers of distracted driving in addition to issuing warnings and citations, according to the release.
“The goal of the operation is to reduce serious crashes while aiming to change behaviors of drivers,” the release stated.
The police department reminded residents that driving while writing, sending or reading a text message is punishable by a $70 fine and one point on an individual’s license.
To clarify, police spokesman Justin Mulcahy told Patch that officers won't pull someone over just for eating food and driving, but that swerving is enough of a reason to stop a driver.
"There are behaviors such as a car swerving which may result in a traffic stop as a primary offense and it may then be learned that someone was distracted such as eating or on a phone which is a secondary offense ... only texting is a primary offense," Mulcahy told Patch in an email.
Do you ever drive while distracted? How serious of a problem is it?
My Opinion
5:01 pm on Friday, July 13, 2012
Long overdue and I hope they catch the law breakers! I have even seen one woman, and she was way past her teen years, reading a BOOK while driving! She had the BOOK leaning on her steering wheel while she was driving and yet it was open and she was reading too! Some people think that the laws are only for people who get caught breaking them and for far too long drivers have broken all the laws they want without any penalties! Go get them!
john
7:57 am on Saturday, July 14, 2012
Yes
Sandi
8:36 am on Saturday, July 14, 2012
Amen! Please, please crack down on them. I used to commute to Baltimore daily. It never ceased to amaze or irritate me how many distracted drivers there are even AFTER the laws were passed. Used to be, if you saw someone drifting in and out of a lane, you could pretty well assume they were under the influence. These days, you have to be aware of what's going on behind and front of you.
Jeff Wagner
10:49 am on Saturday, July 14, 2012
I can't wait for the law to make it totally illegal to use a cell phone. I just hope it will be enforced. These idiots are putting us all in danger.
John
1:53 am on Sunday, July 15, 2012
I understand getting upset but come on enough is enough
Billyotbay
7:39 am on Sunday, July 15, 2012
I very glad to see that the laws are simply just not "on the books" ,but will be enforced in relation to this subject. Texting and using your cell phone have become almost like a dangerous and addictive drug. No matter where you are ,no matter what you are doing many people can not wait until they are in a safe environment to answer their friends or business on mobile phones. We have all see it. The person in front of you driving along and the car is swerving like a drunk driver or driving too slow. only to pull up along side them and see them using their mobile phone while driving a deadly weapon.It puts all of us at risk. We should all be grateful for the police and their actions. Take a step back and remember the world will not end if you do not answer that mobile right away.And if you do,your world could end for you and someone else in the blink of an eye.
JoAnn Cook
8:52 pm on Sunday, July 15, 2012
Next let's try enforcing the law requiring drivers to have their headlights on when their windshield wipers are on.
My Opinion
9:21 am on Monday, July 16, 2012
The lawmakers can make all the laws they want but until people start obeying them AND we hire enough people to enforce them things will not change.....the enforcers are always the ones that the Tea baggers cut, cut, cut....anyone seen a cop lately? I am all for enforcing the laws but I sure wish that people, adults and primarily those driving vehicles for companies like UPS, would honor the laws and the others of us driving on the roads. Some people seem to think that their cars are like a horse that they can bend to switch lanes or run people off the roads....and let us not forget about the pedestrians who fight for their lives trying to cross the streets! Law and order people follow the law!
Richard Hertz
10:46 pm on Tuesday, July 17, 2012
I see cop cars all the time, both state and county, sitting on the side of the road...often two cars side-by-side, so the officers can chat. By the way, do you have any statistics on the number of "enforcers" that have been cut, cut cut?
Operation Eagle is nothing more than a revenue grab. They always say they're doing things for our "safety." But it's really for the money.
Anyone ever seen the studies that show that anti-texting laws actually make texting MORE dangerous? Yes, it seems counter intuitive, but, as with most laws, there are unintended consequences. When it's illegal to text and drive many people start holding the phone even lower, out of sight of the police, thus taking their eyes off the road even longer. But let's not let that get in the way of revenue.
Rob Jones
1:51 am on Friday, July 20, 2012
Texting and driving is a very dangerous thing to do, and I am all for Educating young folks about it. (That is mostly who does it) BUT, I am also sick and tired of our State politicians, and law makers, taking rights away from us, because of stupid things like this! Why are folks texting while driving, you ask? BECAUSE they CAN'T TALK ON THE FRICKING CELL PHONE ANYMORE, unless they buy $$ worth of equipment.This is one more way for Maryland's dictator to slime his way into our personal lives, and reach into our pockets. Why the heck does Maryland, and AA county have so many cops, that they have time for this? You bunch of idiots that have positive comments on here are all for it, until, YOU are pulled over for no obvious reason, and given a ticket for an expired tag or license, or a light out. And don't even tell me that you haven't used your cell phone while driving your car. Next they will do away with probable cause all together. Especially those idiot Annapolis Cops. They will pull you over and lie in court about why. Just ask them, they are arrogant enough to admit it. I have seen it several times!!