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TextDistracted Driving Awareness & Summonses on the Rise
Fairfax County Police Department
Public Information Office
4100 Chain Bridge Road, Fairfax, Va. 22030
703-246-2253. TTY 703-204-2264. Fax 703-246-4253
FCPD-PIO@fairfaxcounty.gov
www.fairfaxcounty.gov/police
News Release: 10/301/(LHC)
November 4, 2010
Distracted Driving Awareness & Summonses
on the Rise
Join us in an online chat Friday, Nov. 5
In an effort to increase public awareness on the dangers of distracted driving, police launched an intensive enforcement and education effort September 10; and they’re getting results.
There was a 66 percent increase in citations written for failure to pay full time and attention (and texting while driving) in 2010 compared to the same time period in 2008. Police have issued 7,165 summonses for these offenses this year compared to 4,305 in 2008.
An analysis of crash factors in Fairfax County shows that between April 2, 2010 and October 1, 2010, there were 6,060 reportable crashes and 9,627 non-reportable crashes. Of those reportable crashes, 485 drivers admitted that driver distractions were a factor that may have led to the crash.
In an effort to ascertain attitudes and behaviors of distracted drivers in Fairfax County, police posted a survey on their public website. Over 1,500 people, ranging in ages from 15 to 60+ participated in the survey. Results indicate that while 75 percent of respondents agree that using a cell phone while driving is a distraction over 54 percent admit to engaging in this behavior. An update of the survey results is posted at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/police.
Captain Susan Culin, Commander of the Traffic Division, along with Master Police Officer Joe Moore, will participate in a live chat online Friday, November 5 at 1:30 p.m. All are welcome and encouraged to pose their questions, observations, or concerns about distracted driving issues in Fairfax County at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/news/askfairfax.
R U Paying Attention to Your Driving?
Police Launch New Distracted Driving Campaign
Chantilly – If you’re texting, eating, applying make up or getting dressed while you’re behind the wheel, you may want to reconsider: Fairfax County Police will be watching. They’re kicking off a new distracted driving campaign aimed at keeping motorists and county roadways safer.
A recent study by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute points out that nearly 80 percent of all crashes and 65 percent of all near-crashes involved driver inattention due to distraction.
Captain Susan Culin, Commander of the FCPD Traffic Division says “Distracted driving is a serious problem,” said Captain Culin, “We see it every day; every where; it’s become an epidemic on our roadways.”
The new campaign combines public education and awareness with strict, innovative, enforcement techniques. Officers will be posted at intersections and along roads where there is high volume and high number of crash incidents, such as the Route 28 corridor and the Tyson’ Corner area. “Officers may be positioned in ‘unorthodox’ locations where they’ll be able to best view careless behaviors that take a driver’s focus off of the roadway,” she said.
In addition to the increased enforcement effort, a new survey with a focus on texting while driving is being launched. Officials want to measure and assess public attitudes and behaviors about distracted driving in Fairfax County so they can best determine and target traffic safety education efforts. The online survey is now posted for public participation at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/police. School resource officers are also encouraging teen drivers to participate.
In partnership with Fairfax County Public Schools, police will distribute a new texting-awareness poster throughout schools across the county as well.
The campaign is slated to run through June 2011; with updates on education and enforcement efforts to be shared with the public.
For more information on the new campaign or distracted driving issues, please contact the Traffic Safety Division at 703-280-0500.
Website Survey 