In an ongoing effort, Wilton Police are turning their attention to distracted driving. Chief Michael Lombardo yesterday distributed an op-ed to area media (including GOOD Morning Wilton) to remind Wilton drivers about the dangers of any activities that distract a vehicle operator from driving safely–most notably, texting. (We have included Lombardo’s op-ed below…)
This media push follows on the heels of a coordinated effort the department made in June with surrounding towns to crack down on such behavior behind the wheel. On Monday, June 16, Wilton officers, working with Norwalk and New Canaan police officers at various locations in the three towns, targeted drivers who violated state distracted driving laws, issuing 17 tickets for cell phone and seatbelt violations. According to the Wilton Police, the total enforcement action taken by all three departments together was 49 infraction tickets issued and 2 misdemeanor summons issued for suspended license and suspended registration.
Motorists can expect targeted attention to continue, says Lt. Donald Wakeman, spokesperson for the WPD.
“There remains an on-going effort to enforce the laws concerning the use of electronic hand held devices, both locally and regionally, as these violations continue to be observed on a regular basis by drivers of all ages,” he said. “There will be additional regional enforcement efforts conducted as we move forward. It is much easier to conduct checkpoints for motor vehicle violations when several departments provide manpower, as there is less burden on each department to supply the added officers needed to adequately staff such a detail.”
Supplementing this patrol effort, the Wilton Police Department has installed fourteen “No Texting And Driving” signs around high traffic areas in Wilton. These areas include outside Wilton High School, on Rte. 7, and in places around town where the highest concentration of traffic is, including Wilton Center.
Lt. Wakeman told GMW.com writer Kate Bell that, “while it’s too early to tell if the signs have been effective, their main purpose is to remind teenagers and other drivers that driving distracted is against the law.”
Those teens may not be heeding the message, however. Recent WHS graduate Stephanie Scamuffo said, “I think the signs don’t hurt, but I’m not sure how much change will actually result.” Out of 20 people Bell polled for this article, half said they thought signs were either ineffective or that they hadn’t even noticed them.
At least one 18-year-old has noticed, however. Alexa Wolf told Bell, “I think [the signs] are helpful, they’re a reminder to people who forget how dangerous texting a driving can be. For many people it’s become habitual, but it’s still really dangerous.”
Additional reporting by Kate Bell.
Distracted Driving Op-Ed, from Police Chief Michael Lombardo
This article is written in an effort to remind the community of the dangers of distracted driving. In 2012, 3,328 people were killed and an additional 421,000 people were injured in car accidents because of a distracted driver. Distracted driving involves any activity that takes your attention away from the primary responsibility of safe driving.
Many forms of distracted driving include:
Texting
Cell phone usage
Eating and drinking
Reading
Video watching
Talking with passengers
In the case of texting, it is more distracting because the activity requires visual, manual and cognitive attention, drawing your attention from driving. Your eyes are off the road an average of five seconds while texting. At a speed of 55 MPH, a vehicle will travel the length of a football field, 100 yards, while the driver is blind to traffic. Ten percent of all drivers under the age of 20 that were involved in a fatal accident were reported as distracted at the time of the crash. This age group represents the largest proportion of distracted drivers. Drivers in their 20s make up 27 percent of all distracted drivers in fatal car accidents.
Any public safety issue involves expected compliance through education about the dangers of the activity. Police also conduct enforcement, detecting and citing those who violate the law. In Wilton, we conduct selective enforcement in town to stop those who continue to engage in distracted driving. Many times residents call us and ask for additional traffic enforcement on their roads to slow cars down, creating a safer environment. In 2013, 31 individual residents called the police department and asked for increased traffic control on their roads and in 2012, 30 individual complaints were filed. Most recently, the Wilton Police Department has teamed up with several area Departments in a regional effort to combat distracted driving and other traffic violations. We have also installed “No Texting” signs in Town reminding people not to text.
Wilton has a very high volume of traffic consistent throughout Town on a daily basis. Approximately 32,300 vehicles pass on Route 7 at one location daily. Additionally, Wilton is the only community that has an increase in daytime population, up 15.15%. This is not the case in most Fairfield County communities, who actually enjoy a significant reduction.
We continue to remain vigilant in our efforts to provide a safe environment for residents to live. I ask each of you to be cognizant of your surroundings while driving, so that we may all enjoy a safer summer on Wilton roads.