FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
May 4, 2010

Commissioner David J. Swarts of the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles and Chair of the Governor's Traffic Safety Committee (GTSC) along with Governor Paterson's Central New York Regional Representative Daniel Young and Syracuse Police Chief Frank Fowler today announced the results of the first Distracted Driving Enforcement Project wave which was conducted in Syracuse from April 8-17.

During the enforcement period 2,300 tickets were issued in the City of Syracuse to motorists who were either talking on a hand-held cell phone or texting while driving. The City of Syracuse Police Department, the New York State Police and members of the Onondaga Sheriff's Department combined their efforts in this unique initiative.

"We are proud that New York State was selected for this pilot project dedicated to combating distracted driving," said Governor David A. Paterson. "The results of this first wave demonstrate the commitment of our law enforcement agencies to this dangerous issue and we are thankful to them for their efforts. Through these and other efforts, we will continue to work to make New York's roads safer for all travelers."

"The Governor's Traffic Safety Committee is very pleased with the results of this first enforcement wave," said Commissioner Swarts. "We have seen the positive results of other national traffic safety models such as Click It or Ticket and Over the Limit: Under Arrest and I believe this effort will prove to be just as successful as those campaigns to promote highway safety."

"The first wave of enforcement was very successful," said Syracuse Police Chief Frank Fowler. "Our officers and law enforcement partners will continue to work diligently to remind motorists that if they are talking on a cell phone or texting while driving, they will get a ticket."

Syracuse was one of only two cities in the nation to receive total grant funding of $300,000 from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) through the Governor's Traffic Safety Committee for the enforcement and public awareness campaign. The campaign, entitled "Phone in One Hand. Ticket in the Other", utilizes increased law enforcement efforts combined with effective public education to convince motorists to put down their cell phones while they are driving. A public service announcement meant to educate the public on the issue of the dangers of distracted driving features several different motorists talking on their cell phones or texting while driving and the accidents that are a result of their inattention. Entitled "BAM", it will run during each of the up-coming enforcement waves.

NHTSA reports that across the nation nearly 6,000 people died in 2008 in crashes involving a distracted of inattentive driver and more than 500,000 were injured. In New York, at least one in five crashes has distracted driving listed as a contributing factor. The next three enforcement waves are scheduled for July 22-31; October 7-16, and April 7-16, 2011.

For more information please visit www.SafeNY.ny.gov or www.dmv.ny.gov.