For the Reporter
Local law enforcement agencies and the Washington State Patrol are joining forces from May 31 to June 13, looking for people talking on their cellphones or texting while driving in King County.
Drivers talking on a cellphone without a hands-free device or texting can face a $124 fine.
“We are getting the word out now so drivers get the message and put their phones down,” said Lt. Kurt Schwan, of the Federal Way Police Department. “You can avoid a ticket and more importantly help prevent another unnecessary crash.”
From 2011 to 2013, distracted driver-involved crashes accounted for more than 24 percent of all traffic deaths in King County according to data from the Washington Traffic Safety Commission. Distraction can include eating, reading or adjusting music while driving but researchers are finding the dangers related to cellphone distraction are most alarming.
According to a recent study by the University of Utah, those texting and driving are six times more likely to be in a crash than a drunk driver. Researchers also found that using a cellphone, handheld or hands-free, delays a driver’s reaction as much as having a blood alcohol concentration at the legal limit of .08. Researchers from the Harborview Injury Prevention & Research Center found that at any given time, one in ten drivers in Washington is engaged with a cellphone while driving.
Hefty fine, fees
In Washington state, all drivers are prohibited from texting or talking on their cellphones without using a hands-free device. The fine for a violation is $124 and additional fees can be added if a collision occurs. Any drivers under the age of 18 cannot use a cellphone at all and could lose their license according to Washington’s intermediate driver’s license laws.
“King County EMS and WSP are collaborating to address distracted drivers in King County through a new Targeted Enforcement Area (TEA) plan along specific interstate and state routes” said Lt. Michael Rupert of the Washington State Patrol. “This is a great tool for troopers to identify areas that have more collisions and injuries due to distracted driving and aggressive behaviors”.
The Algona, Auburn, Bellevue, Black Diamond, Burien, Covington, Des Moines, Enumclaw, Federal Way, Issaquah, Kent, Kirkland, Lake Forest Park, Maple Valley, Mercer Island, Newcastle, Pacific, Port of Seattle, Redmond, SeaTac, Seattle, Snoqualmie, and Woodinville Police Departments and the Washington State Patrol are participating in the campaign.
Extra patrols are coordinated by the King County Target Zero Task Force and partially funded by grants from King County Emergency Medical Services and the Washington Traffic Safety Commission.
