WPD to launch distracted driving campaign

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Wilmington Police are launching a week-long initiative Monday to battle distracted driving in the Port City.

WPD says its Traffic Unit will closely monitor drivers who are distracted using smartphones, eating or are otherwise preoccupied. WPD says it has seen an increase in rear-end collisions due to distracted drivers recently.

Traffic officers will do saturation patrols to find distracted drivers. Officers will then do traffic stops on those drivers and educate them on the hazards of distracted driving. They will also take the appropriate enforcement action based on the circumstances.

According to a news release, the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration says at any given daylight moment across America, approximately 660,000 drivers are using cell phones or manipulating electronic devices while driving. According to the NHTSA, ten percent of all drivers 15 to 19 years old involved in fatal crashes were reported as distracted at the time of the crash.