Cops: Eyes on the Road, Hands Off the Phone, Palos Park

Palos Park Police Commissioner Dan Polk reminds everyone that April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month and asks driver’s to keep their eyes and focus on the roadway while driving

Palos Park officers will be patrolling roadways, cracking down on distracted driving in an attempt to lower vehicle crashes by enforcing restrictions on cell phones, texting, and any other distractions within the vehicle that would distract a driver while operating a motor vehicle.

The purpose of the campaign is to undertake visible, targeted enforcement during April, which is National Distracted Driving Month.  Enforcement activities will specifically focus on driver behaviors that distract from the task of driving, such as talking on a hand-held cell phone and/or sending text messages. 

Sending or receiving a text message takes a driver's eyes off the road for an average 4.6 seconds, which is the equivalent of driving the length of an entire football field at 55 mph.  "Every time someone takes their eyes or their focus off the road—even for just a few seconds—they put their lives and the lives of others in danger," said Commissioner Polk.  "Distracted driving is unsafe, irresponsible and in a split second, its consequences can be devastating."

Police Chief Joe Miller encourages the driving public as always to be alert and cautious while driving. Should you receive a text message or phone call on your cellular phone while driving and your vehicle is not equipped with “Bluetooth,” pull to the side of the road when conditions are safe.

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