Chief’s Corner
By Chief Steven J. Wojnar Dudley Police Department AAA has asked us to share the following information and remind everyone that April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month. Distracted driving continues to be a significant problem. AAA recently produced a Public Service Announcement and asked us to share it on our social media channels and other public venues. It can be found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0NH4p0hSvyU. As I mentioned a few weeks ago, handheld cell phone use while driving is prohibited in Massachusetts. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2019 distracted driving crashes killed 3,142 people in the U.S., an average of 9 deaths per day. That number was up 10 percent from the year before (2,839 deaths in 2018). In southern New England (RI/MA/CT), 35 people died in 2019 because of distracted driving. According to a study conducted by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety in 2019, most drivers (96 percent) believe typing or reading on a hand-held cellphone while driving to be very or extremely dangerous. However, 39 percent admit to reading and 29 percent admit to typing on a smartphone at least once while behind the wheel within the last month. The survey also found drivers can experience a “hangover effect” where the mind stays distracted for up to 27 seconds after using smartphones for voice-to-text, making phone calls, or updating social media. AAA is encouraging all motorists to eliminate distracted driving by following these tips:
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As the pandemic continues, we ask everyone to stay safe and continue to take the necessary precautions to protect yourselves. Vaccination information can be found at www.dudleyma.gov or by calling 508-949-8036. Hopefully, the end of this pandemic is in sight. We, at the Dudley Police Department, greatly appreciate the support we receive from our community. Thanks again for your questions and comments. Please send them to me at the Dudley Police Department 71 West Main St., Dudley, Ma. 01571 or email at swojnar@dudleypolice.com. Opinions expressed in this weekly column are those of Chief Wojnar only and unless clearly noted, do not reflect the ideas or opinions of any other organization or citizen. |
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