Buckle Up, Phone Down

VCU Police participate in ‘Distracted Driving Awareness Month’

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The Virginia Commonwealth University Police Department is joining the National Highway Safety Administration and DRIVE SMART Virginia in recognizing April 2013 as Distracted Driving Awareness Month. 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, reading and cell phone and smart phone use. Since cell phone and smart phone use while driving occurs most frequently, it is one of the most dangerous behaviors.

“As smart phone technology has developed, more people are using these devices as they drive,” said VCU Police Officer Shawn Kelley. “Statistics show that you are 23 times more likely to crash if you text while driving.”

The VCU Police Department has developed posters and vehicle magnets with messages encouraging drivers to “buckle up – phone down” and “TEXT L8R.” The TEXT L8R magnets have been added to all police cars, RamSafe vans and parking vehicles. Additional staffing will be dedicated to searching for distracted drivers and other traffic violations.

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 distracted driving.

“At the VCU Police department, we are being progressive and aggressive when it comes to distracted driving,” said Police Chief John Venuti. “The department is working very hard to educate the public on the importance of being safe and smart while operating a motor vehicle and at the same time, we will aggressively pursue those drivers who put others at risk through distracted driving.”

Police and the VCU Office of Student Affairs worked to bring a simulator to campus on April 2, to show students the effects of distracted driving.  

The simulator’s appearance is one of the activities conducted by the VCU Police Department in connection with Distracted Driving Awareness Month in April.

The Virginia laws covering distracted driving are:

§ 46.2-1078. Unlawful to operate motor vehicle, bicycle, electric personal assistive mobility device, electric power-assisted bicycle, or moped while using earphones.

§ 46.2-1078.1 It shall be unlawful for any person to operate a moving motor vehicle on the highways in the Commonwealth while using any handheld personal communications device to:
1. Manually enter multiple letters or text in the device as a means of communicating with another person; or
2. Read any email or text message transmitted to the device or stored within the device, provided that this prohibition shall not apply to any name or number stored in the device nor to any caller identification information.
A violation of any provision of this section shall constitute a traffic infraction punishable, for a first offense, by a fine of $20 and, for a second or subsequent offense, by a fine of $50.

While § 46.2-1078 is a primary offense, § 46.2-1078.1 is not and no citation for a violation of this section shall be issued unless the officer issuing such citation has cause to stop or arrest the driver of such motor vehicle for the violation of some other provision of this Code or local ordinance relating to the operation, ownership, or maintenance of a motor vehicle or any criminal statute. 



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