SYRACUSE -- If you talk or text on your cell phone, you better think again.
State Police in North Syracuse, in partnership with the Syracuse Police Department and the Onondaga County Sheriff's Office, issued tickets for drivers caught talking or texting on their cell phone while driving. It was all part of the Distracted Driving Campaign from July 22nd through July 30th.
Here's the breakdown:
-Tickets issued for talking on the phone: 155
-Tickets issued for texting: 2
-Other traffic violations: 143
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says nearly 6,000 people died in 2008 in craches involving a distracted driver. Drivers under 20-years-old have the highest proportion of distraction-related fatal crashes. The NHTSA blames less driving experience as part of the reason.
Drivers who use hand-held devices while driving are four times more likely to get into an accident that could seriously injury themselves, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
Saturday is the final day of the campaign.
Also, check this out: a national summit planned to find ways to combat the problem of distracted driving.
