Massachusetts Police Chief issued warning concerning distracted driving crackdown, department racking up offenders

West Bridgewater Police Chief Victor Flaherty warned motorists that the department would be cracking down on distracted driving and apparently some drivers weren’t listening.

“Some operators didn’t take my warning last week. Officers have stopped 37 operators for distracted driving in the first two days of our week long enforcement effort. Remember the Massachusetts Hands Free law bans HAND HELD cell phones use by drivers.”

Flaherty stated that the U. S Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration note that distraction was a factor in 9 percent of fatal crashes. National Safety Council reports that cell phone use while driving leads to 1.6 million crashes every year. Nearly 390,000 injuries occur each year from accidents caused by texting while driving.

West Bridgewater Police are known for their yearly anti-distracted driving drives and Flaherty doesn’t plan on ending them anytime soon.

“Please put down your phones and just drive. It will save lives.”