Since the University of Idaho started its fall semester Monday, and Moscow public schools will begin soon, the Moscow Police Department is reminding drivers that texting while driving is dangerous and one of the leading causes for distracted driving.
The law prohibits using smartphones and other handheld devices to manually review, prepare or send written communications while driving. Police officers can stop and cite drivers for texting even though the offense is not a moving violation. There are no points assessed against the driver’s license, but offenders pay $81.50, if cited.
A city news release said about one of every five Idaho motor vehicle crashes results from distracted driving. The Governors Highway Safety Association offers 10 tips for managing some of the most common driver distractions. Some of them include: turn your phone off before getting in the car; pull over to make a call or text; ask a passenger to make a call for you; review maps and directions before starting the drive; and refrain from smoking, drinking, eating, reading and other activities that can distract you from driving safely.
Read The 25 Scariest Texting and Driving Accident Statistics
Via the Moscow-Pullman Daily News