Best Practices and Tools for Distracted Driving Awareness and Enforcement

Keynote Speakers Ed Hutchison Director of Traffic Safety National Sheriffs’ Association Kassie Carley Software Product Manager Laser Technology, Inc. Howard Hall Chief of Police Roanoke County, VA Committee Chair, NLEC

1 st proximity laser for NASA missions 1 st recreational rangefinder 1 st commercial speed laser About Laser Technology, Inc.

What’s The Problem? 88.7% of drivers feel threatened by other drivers talking on cell phones 96.1% of drivers feel threatened by other drivers texting 67.3% of drivers admit to driving while talking on a cell phone in the last month 34.7% of drivers admit to texting while driving in the last month

What Works? Good laws Three E’s Data Driven Approaches to Crime and Traffic Safety (DDACTS) Partnerships All of the above

NLEC Mission Statement “Recognize excellent law enforcement traffic safety programs”

NLEC Vision Expand involvement in traffic safety as a priority Reduce crashes that result in injuries and deaths Detect and deter crime Create safer communities Improve quality of life

NLEC Priority Areas Occupant Protection Impaired Driving Speed State/Local Priorities

Recognition and Special Awards Speeding Impaired Driving Occupant Protection Bicycle/Pedestrian Safety Commercial Motor Vehicle (2) Motorcycle Safety Technology Distracted Driving

California Highway Patrol Target ages 16-19, 20+ Strategic plan: statewide surveys/enforcement Agency wide training Education: “Impact Teen Drivers” “Smart Start” Adult safety presentations Highway messaging Social media

California Highway Patrol Enforcement Grant campaigns Interstate projects Distracted Driving Awareness Month University of California study: cell phone usage declined from 10.8% to 7.4%

Non-profit organization dedicated to raising the level of professionalism among those in the law enforcement field. NSA’s Traffic Safety Department: Perpetuates traffic safety issues Facilitates traffic safety program implementation Provides technical assistance National Sheriffs’ Association

NSA and NHTSA sponsor technology and training seminars to familiarize state, county, tribal, and local highway safety and law enforcement officials with current countermeasures related to: Alcohol and other drugs Occupant protection Speed and aggressive driving Motor vehicle and driver control Dangerous driving behaviors Policies and procedures Older drivers Distracted driving About National Sheriffs’ Association

“Any non-driving activity an operator engages in that diverts their attention away from the primary task of driving.” Distracted Driving

Categories of Distracted Driving Visual – Looking at something other than the road Auditory – Hearing something not related to driving Manual – Manipulating something other than the steering wheel Cognitive – Thinking about something other than driving NOTE: Most distractions encompass more than one category, with both a sensory (eyes, ears, or touch) and a mental or cognitive component.

Types of Distractions Texting Using a cell phone or smartphone Eating and/or drinking Talking to passengers Grooming Reading, including maps Using a navigation system Watching a video Adjusting a radio, CD player, or MP3 player

Enforcement Techniques Unmarked Police Vehicles Gives officers an advantage in observing violators before the violators spot them Vehicle Positioning In alleyways, behind bushes, and in places where the officer can see the violator before the violator spots the officer

Enforcement Techniques Police Motorcycles Have a higher vantage point, can move easily through traffic and can ride up beside an offender without being noticed Two Officer Enforcement Allows the operating officer to concentrate on safe driving while the passenger looks for violators

Enforcement Techniques Spotters A plain clothes officer can view into vehicles and radio ahead to uniformed officers. Public Education Such as billboards and pamphlets serve to inform citizens of the laws and also high visibility enforcement campaigns.

New Distracted Driving Enforcement Tool

TruSpeed® Sxb 2000 ft range 7x magnification Through-the-lens viewing Black mask LCD iOS compatible Bluetooth Fixed Distance Zero Velocity

About SpeedCapture Origin What is required? Evolution – Enforce more than speed

SpeedCapture App GPS auto-location Capture embedded images Group enforcement functionality Send records via FTP Records organized by name, date & time Images available for evidence Review records by location

Questions?

Talking on the phone Device Used: Samsung Galaxy S5 Checking out the ladies Galaxy S5 Distracted Drivers Gallery

Phone propped on dash: GPS? Watching a movie ? Device Used: Samsung Galaxy S5 Checking out the ladies Galaxy S5 Distracted Drivers Gallery

Checking out the ladies Galaxy S5 Distracted Drivers Gallery Checking out the ladies Device Used: Samsung Galaxy S5

Checking out the ladies Galaxy S5 Distracted Drivers Gallery Texting at a red light, double lane merge to interstate Device Used: iPhone 4s

Checking out the ladies Galaxy S5 Distracted Drivers Gallery Talking on the phone Device Used: Samsung Galaxy S5

Checking out the ladies Galaxy S5 Distracted Drivers Gallery Texting at a red light, double lane merge to interstate Device Used: iPhone 4s

Thank you!