Illinois State Police (ISP) Troop 9 Commander, Lieutenant Bruce Waggoner, has announced that ISP will conduct Distracted Driving Enforcement Patrols
in Effingham, Marion, Wayne, and White counties during the month of May.
The program is designed to focus on enforcing distracted driving laws and preventing traffic deaths and serious injury crashes.Distracted driving, defined as any activity that takes the driver’s attention away from driving, significantly increases the risk of accidents. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, more than 3,000 people are killed annually in crashes involving distracted driving. Reading a text message can take a driver’s eyes off the road for an average of five seconds, and nearly 1 in every 10 injury crashes involves a distracted driver.
During the enforcement campaign, officers will be on the lookout for drivers who violate Illinois’ distracted driving laws, which include:
All drivers are prohibited from reading, sending, or receiving text messages or communication, video streaming, and browsing the internet.
Use of handheld electronic communication devices is banned for all drivers.
Drivers under 18 are prohibited from using any cellphone, even hands-free.
All drivers are prohibited from using any cellphone, including hands-free, while in school speed zones and work zones.School bus drivers are not permitted to use any type of cellphone, even hands-free.
It is illegal to use a cellphone or take photos or videos on wireless devices when driving within 500 feet of an emergency scene.