Tuesday marks the beginning of National Distracted Driving Awareness Month and Lincoln Police will be conducting a month long high-visibility traffic enforcement project. “LPD will deploy additional officers on overtime specifically to identify and cite drivers who are distracted by electronic devices or engaging in other dangerous behaviors behind the wheel,” says Public Information Manager Erika Thomas.
“While the primary focus is distracted driving, officers will also monitor secondary violations that often result from inattention, including speeding, red light/stop sign violations, and failure to yield.”
Thomas says last year Nebraska saw thousands of crashes attributed to inattentive or distracted driving. “At 55 mph, sending or reading a text is equivalent to driving the length of a football field with your eyes closed.”
LPD is encouraging residents to help them by telling your friends and family to put the phones away when they are driving. “One second of distraction can lead to a lifetime of regret.”| The enforcement project is made possible through a grant from our partners at the Nebraska Department of Transportation Highway Safety Office.