The Federal Way Police Department is cracking down on texting-law violators during the Third National Texting Enforcement Crackdown.
The department announced that from April 15-30, law enforcement personnel will be coming down hard on motorists who text while driving. “U Drive, U Text, U Pay,” a high-visibility national enforcement campaign, has two goals: conduct intense enforcement of anti-texting laws, and couple these efforts with advertising, media and social media outreach to let drivers know about the enforcement and convince them to obey the law.
“Driving and texting is not only dangerous and irresponsible, it’s illegal,” said Federal Way police traffic lieutenant Kurt Schwan in a release. “Drivers who break our state’s texting law will be stopped and fined. This is a major problem in our country, and we’re trying to work toward a resolution by fining violators. If you drive and text, you will pay.”
Distracted driving statistics paint a grim picture: In 2014, an estimated 3,179 people were killed and an additional 431,000 were injured in motor vehicle crashes involving distracted drivers.
The percentage of drivers text-messaging or visibly manipulating hand-held devices increased from 1.7 percent in 2013 to 2.2 percent in 2014. Since 2007, drivers ages 16 to 24 have been observed manipulating electronic devices at higher rates than older drivers.
“Texting and driving requires motorists to take their eyes off the road, hands off the wheel and mind off the task of driving. This is a recipe for a crash, and that’s a scary thought,” said Federal Way Police Chief Andy Hwang. “It’s arrogant and selfish to think that your dangerous and illegal behavior is acceptable. No one has the right to put another person’s life at risk like that.”
The successes of the “Click It or Ticket” and “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaigns have shown that the combination of tough laws, targeted advertising and high-visibility enforcement can change people’s risky traffic safety behaviors.
“It’s not that complicated: if you text and drive, we will see you, pull you over, and fine you,” Schwan said. “We’re serious about enforcing texting laws.”
