Police campaign targeting distracted drivers
ELKHART — Officers with the Elkhart County Traffic Safety Partnership are on high alert as they participate in an annual traffic safety campaign looking for people speeding or driving while distracted.
Distracted driving and speeding caused over 17,000 thousand crashes across Indiana in 2024, resulting in 230 deaths, according to information provided by the partnership.
To help save lives, the Elkhart County Traffic Safety Partnership is participating in a traffic safety campaign from April 5-19. During the campaign, which is funded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration with grants administered by the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute, motorists should expect to see an increase in roving and high-visibility patrols.
'Distracted driving isn't just risky, it's deadly,' said James Bryan, ICJI's Traffic safety director. 'Taking your eyes off the road for even just a few seconds can change a life forever. No text, call, or notification is worth the cost of a crash.'
Distracted driving, which involves cell phone use or any activity that takes attention away from the task of driving, is risky behavior that endangers everyone on the road, from the distracted driver and other drivers to passengers, pedestrians, and cyclists, the statement reads. Drivers can prioritize safe driving by keeping their hands on the wheel, their eyes on the road, and their focus on driving.
In 2020, Indiana passed a law prohibiting holding or using a mobile device such as a smartphone or tablet. Since then, law enforcement agencies have worked to educate motorists, issuing 7,684 hands-free citations and 11,203 warnings in 2024 alone. Violating the law is a Class C infraction, which carries a fine of up to $500 and results in points being added to an individual's driver's license.
'We all share the road, and all Hoosiers share the responsibility to drive safely,' said Douglas Huntsinger, ICJI's executive director. 'Slowing down is one of the simplest ways to protect yourself and others.'
For more information on distracted driving, visit www.nhtsa.gov/campaign/distracted-driving, or for more information about Indiana's hands-free device driving law, visit www.HandsFreeIndiana.com. For more information on speeding, visit www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/speeding.
The Elkhart County Traffic Safety Partnership includes the following agencies from Elkhart County: Elkhart City Police Department, Goshen City Police Department, Elkhart County Sheriff's Office, Nappanee Police Department, Bristol Police Department, and Wakarusa Police Department.
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