The Fairfax County Police Department urges motorists to pay full time and attention when driving and reminds them that House Bill 1876 goes into effect on Wednesday, July 1. The new law prohibits drivers from sending or reading text messages and is punishable by a fine of $20.00 for the first offense and $50.00 for additional infractions. Virginia is the ninth state in the nation to ban text messaging while driving.
Commander of the Traffic Division, Captain Susan Culin, stresses that “the primary responsibility of a driver is to operate a motor vehicle safely. Driving requires one’s full attention and focus.” There were 14,078 traffic crashes in Fairfax County in 2008. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, driver distraction (from all sources) contributes to 25 percent of all police-reported crashes.
In the past, without a specific law pertaining to text messaging behind the wheel, officers charged violators with failure to pay full time and attention, a problem that is clearly on the rise. In 2008, Fairfax County Police officers charged 4,303 drivers, an increase from 3,317 arrests in 2007.
National Distracted Driving Week, led by the National Safety Council, runs June 22 – 28, 2009 and police join them in reminding motorists of the importance of educating and influencing people on how to help prevent accidental injury and death.
Learn more about new Virginia laws, and tips on avoiding distracted driving, at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/police. Watch the latest edition of F.C.P.D. Newsline where PFC Joe Moore describes several traffic laws motorists need to know.
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