Put Down the Phone and Drive

Here is a small but gratifying snippet of news that was in yesterday's Daily Post.  You probably didn't see it because there are only about four newspaper boxes in town that have the Post regularly.  I get it in San Mateo.

Kudos to BPD for making the local streets safer.  I see this violation all the time when I am walking around town, so let's do it again real soon.  Ten instances is a drop in the bucket.

Update:  I got some further insight from BPD on this effort. 

The distracted driving enforcement is part of a grant B'game gets from the State’s Office of Traffic Safety.  The grant funds fifteen 4-hour enforcement details throughout the year (with 2 officers per detail).  They are broken down as follows:

• 2 bicycle/pedestrian safety details
• 6 distracted driving details
• 7 details at high accident areas in town

The grant also funds 2 DUI checkpoints, 4 larger collaborative traffic enforcement details and some officer training.  The grant year runs from October 2020 thru September 2021.  We have completed 6 of the details so far and still have 9 to go.  BPD tries to do them about once a month, so there are more to come.

Comments

[Just Visiting]

This message needs maximum amplification. If we are going to make our streets safer (and we need to), people need to stop using their mobile devices while driving.

And they need to slow down.

Americans' willingness to violate traffic laws because it will save a few seconds (or even a few minutes) should probably be described as an epidemic. The amount of injury, death, and property damage that results more than qualifies.

[[email protected]]

It may be possible to confiscate a persons Cell Phone.
To some this may be considered "Cruel and Unusual Punishment." However, a small price to pay to save our loved ones from Inconsiderate, Narcissistic, neighbors of ours.
There is NO reason to not charge "Texter's" with the same penalties that a Drunk Driver Receives.

[Joe]

I've added some updated info to the original post. It also appears that the first offense distracted driving ticket is about $150.

[Peter Garrison]

Finally going to a point to your insurance.