VCU news

By Mike Porter

The Virginia Commonwealth University Police Department is joining DRIVE SMART Virginia in recognizing April 2011 as Distracted Driving Awareness Month in Virginia. Distracted Driving is a growing problem throughout the country and is recognized as a major cause in many roadway crashes.

Driving while distracted encompasses any activity that takes one’s eyes and/or mind off of the task of driving. Common distractions behind the wheel include eating or drinking, personal grooming, cell phone use and reading. Since cell phone use while driving occurs most frequently, it is one of the most dangerous behaviors. While it is not illegal to talk on a cell phone while operating a motor vehicle, it is against Virginia law to text while driving.

Last year, VCU Police participated in the Distracted Driver Awareness Day in Virginia and provided educational information to 65 people and issued three summonses for distracted driving, which became a secondary offense in Virginia in July 2009.

VCU Police Chief John A. Venuti called on students, faculty, staff and people who drive on the streets through campus to be aware of the hazards of texting while driving.

“Safety is our number one goal,” Venuti said. “The VCU Police department is working to educate the public on the importance of being safe and smart while operating a motor vehicle and being aware of pedestrian movements on both the academic and medical campuses.”