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Survey Says: 10% of Drivers Distracted by Texting, Phone Use
Photo by melissssaf via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr
By Kevin Mathews/Special to LAist10% of drivers in Glendale engage in distracting and illegal activities according to a survey conducted by the Glendale Police Department, reports the News-Press.
Posting a plainclothes police officer at the corner of Brand Boulevard and California Avenue this past Wednesday, Glendale officials found as many as a dozen motorists improperly using their cell phones in the span of just one minute.
Normally, a citation for texting or using a cell phone without a hands-free device in Glendale would yield a $145 fine. Although none of the people committing infractions were ticketed during the survey, the Police Department hopes to use this data to help combat the
growing epidemic of texting-while-driving.
The survey is funded by a quarter-million dollar granted furnished by the California Office of Traffic Safety. Last month, Glendale debuted its “Driven 2 Distraction” campaign, which featured an intentionally wrecked car left on display to warn residents of the dangers of inattentive driving.
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