Police Crack Down on Distracted Drivers

are cracking down on drivers using cell phones throughout April as part of National Distracted Driving Awareness Month.

In Illinois, drivers are prohibited from using all electronic communication devices. A driver may not compose, read or send any electronic messages. Additionally, they cannot access email or request to access an Internet site. Drivers cannot surf the web, update Facebook, use an application or download music while driving, Buffalo Grove police emphasized.

"This is a hot issue for law enforcement because we know that it causes crashes and fatalities," Sgt. Scott Kristiansen said. “The Buffalo Grove police will be conducting ‘zero tolerance’ enforcement efforts throughout the month of April. Officers will be out in school zones, construction zones and at intersections, looking for distracted driving violations.”

Violators can face $120 fines plus court costs. Drivers under age 19 who break the law can also have their restricted driving status extended for a period of six months.

A 2009 survey by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) revealed an increase in the use of electronic devices while driving. The survey it showed that the hand-held cell phone use rate translated into 672,000 vehicles being driven by someone using a hand-held cell phone at any given moment during daylight hours.

Drivers can use hands-free or voice activated mode while talking on a phone or if they are reporting an emergency situation. All cell phone use is prohibited in construction and school zones.