Stamford Police Cracking Down On Distracted Driving
STAMFORD, Conn. (CBSNewYork)-- Throughout April, you'll never know where they're going to be.
WCBS 880's Sean Adams were on stakeout with Stamford police looking for distracted drivers. Sergeant Andrew Gallagher acted as a spotter and radioed to officers in wait around the corner.
"In this position we're seeing drivers who are slowing down for the turn that they're going into, they have to put their phones down or they have to re-grip their wheel so that they can hold their phone while still turning a steering wheel," he said. "Typically they have the cell phone right up to their ear or they're holding the cell phone out at shoulder level next to their head and talking into the speaker mode, which is also illegal."
Last year, Connecticut Department of Transportation revealed a startling statistic that drivers talk or text 11 million times a day in the state.
"This year our numbers are definitely down compared to the last two years," Gallagher said.
Across the country, distracted driving accidents claim more than 3,000 lives each year.
A 2015 survey found that while most people know texting and checking email behind the wheel is dangerous, a growing number do it anyway.
While 98 percent of drivers surveyed believe that texting while driving is dangerous, 66 percent admit to doing it.