Crime & Safety

Algonquin Police Aim to Reduce Cell Phone Use on Roads

The following informations comes from an Algonquin Police Department press release. 

As April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month, the Algonquin Police Department has announced a combined education and enforcement campaign targeting distracted driving.

Through the use of media releases, social media, sign messaging, and enforcement, the Algonquin Police Department hopes to reduce the frequency and number of motorists who are using hand held cell phones while driving, thereby reducing the chances of traffic collisions.

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Distracted driving has become a trend with deadly, real consequences. For anyone who thinks they can talk on the phone, text, eat, apply make-up, or do any other distracting activity while driving, it’s time for a crash course in reality from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). In 2012, 3,328 people were killed in crashes involving a distracted driver.

Two of the most alarming and widespread forms of distracted driving is cell phone usage and text messaging. Text messaging is of heightened concern because it combines three types of distraction – visual, manual and cognitive. In other words, texting involves taking driver’s eyes off the road, hands off the wheel, and mind off the task of driving.

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  • About 1.3 million crashes nationwide—or 23 percent of the annual total—involve drivers using cellphones. (National Safety Council)
  • About 21 percent of teenage drivers who were involved in fatal crashes were distracted by cellphone use when the crash occurred. (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration)
  • Drivers using hand-held phones are four times more likely to get into an accident causing injuries. (U.S. Department of Transportation)
  • At any given time of day, about 800,000 drivers are using hand-held phone while driving. (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration)

Please join the Algonquin Police Department in making our roadways safer by eliminating distracted driving. Here are some tips to avoid distracted driving:

  • Shut your cellphone off before you get in your car.
  • If you have to make a call, pull over and stop your vehicle in a safe area.
  • Have a passenger answer a call or respond to a text for you.
  • Set climate controls and adjust seat before driving.
  • Program navigational devices before you start to drive.
  • Complete your personal grooming, dressing, and eating before you hit the road. 
  • Secure children and pets before beginning to drive. Stop if they need your attention.

Last, but not least, spread the word. Record a message on your phone that warns callers that you are driving and will get back to them later. You can also sign up for a service or phone app that offers this feature.


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