Enforcement Program Shows Big Reduction in Distracted Driving

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced that "distracted-driving violations have fallen dramatically in Hartford and Syracuse, N.Y., as a result of high-visibility police programs."  Each of the pilot enforcement programs cost $300,000 ($200,000 in federal money and $100,000 from the states), to pay police departments to enforce the state's distracted driving laws and advertise about the issue. Citations were issued to almost 10,000 drivers in each city over the past year. Hartford saw a 57% drop in talking while driving and a nearly 75% drop in texting and driving, according to researchers.