BROKEN BOW – The Broken Bow Police Department will be joining forces with the United States Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for an early April campaign to help prevent distracted driving.
In a statement released by the department, the campaign will take place next week, between April 3 and 9, and will be focused on texting while driving, which according to Broken Bow Police Chief Steve Scott, is one of the leading causes of vehicle accidents related to distracted driving. Nebraska research from 2022 showed that 1 in 10 drivers are regularly distracted by electronic devices.
The Broken Bow Police Department reminds residents that the fine for using a handheld communication device while driving can range from $200 to $500, and could put 3 points against a driver’s license.
The department and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration urge drivers to put their phones down when behind the wheel, and offer tips to reduce distraction, which include pulling over in the case of an urgent text, asking a passenger to be the “designated texter,” not to engage in social media at all while driving and activating a phone’s “Do Not Disturb” setting while driving.
