In support of National Distracted Driving Awareness Month, the Joliet Police Department is conducting enforcement from April 1st through 30th. This campaign will focus on enforcement of applicable state distracted driving laws in addition to other traffic laws.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA):

  • 3,477 people were killed and an estimated 391,000 injured in motor vehicle crashes involving distracted drivers in 2015. That is a 9-percent increase in fatalities as compared to the previous year.
  • 10 percent of fatal crashes, 15 percent of injury crashes, and 14 percent of all police reported motor vehicle crashes in 2015 were reported as distraction affected crashes.
  • Texting while driving has become an especially problematic trend among millennials. Young drivers, 16 to 24 years old, have been observed using handheld electronic devices while driving at higher rates than older drivers since 2007.

It’s time to drop the double standard on distracted driving – the dangers are real.  According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety:

  • In analyzing 2009-2012 data, that even while more than 8 in 10 drivers believed it completely unacceptable for a motorist to text or e-mail behind the wheel, more than a third of those same respondents admitted to reading text messages while driving.
  • Just as disturbing, even as fatalities go up, fewer drivers seem concerned about texting while driving. According to Foundation’s 2015 Traffic Safety Culture Index, significantly fewer motorists (77%) believed texting while driving is a problem, down from 96 percent in 2013, a 19-point drop in just two years.
  • Texting while driving is more than just personally risky. When you text and drive, you become a danger to everyone around you.

This enforcement effort is made possible by federal traffic safety funds grant administered by the Illinois Department of Transportation to reduce traffic fatalities and injuries resulting from distracted driving.

The City of Joliet is the third largest city in the state of Illinois, located just 45 miles southwest of Chicago’s Loop.  Home to over 152,000 residents, in addition to thriving businesses and attractions, the City of Joliet is easily accessible by rail, auto and bus transit. A perfect place to live, work and play, Joliet is constantly striving to promote growth and diversity.  For more information on Joliet visit www.visitjoliet.org or call 815.724.4000.