Police target distracted diving
FLORIDA- Flhsmv.gov writes that police are working on a campaign to target distracted driving in Florida. The Put It Down: Focus on Driving initiative is being used to educate drivers about the distracted driving law that went into effect recently in the state.
When it comes to using an electronic device while driving, there are some pretty serious restrictions, including those that prohibit drivers from typing any letters, symbols, or numbers into a device with the intent to email, message, or text.
Any use of a handheld electronic device is against the law when a driver is in a school zone or a work zone. Active work zones are those where construction workers are on site.
Distracted driving is often correlated with the use of a phone while driving; other behaviors also qualify. The three categories of distraction for motorists include looking away from the road, taking hands off the steering wheel, and thinking about things unrelated to the task of driving.
Texting is particularly dangerous as all three types of distraction are involved in this activity. Other common distractions may seem less serious or even normal to engage in while operating a car. Those include communicating with passengers, looking at a GPS system, dealing with loose pets in the car, adjusting the temperature, eating, and watching events occurring outside of the vehicle.
Avoiding collisions requires focus and caution because hazards can come into the road unexpectedly at any time. It is important to remember that stopping in an emergency takes time because drivers must first notice the problem or obstacle and then react, and the car then needs distance to come to a stop. At 50 miles per hour, a driver will need about the distance of a football field in order to completely stop their vehicle. If that driver is not focused, the amount of time necessary is even greater, and the risk of crashes increases significantly.
