It's 'Don't Text & Drive Day'

RI Attorney General, RIDOT and others to kick off the 'Txtng & Drivng...It Can Wait' campaign today, Sept. 19.

Today, Sept. 19, is “National Don’t Text and Drive Day.” In Rhode Island, Attorney General Peter F. Kilmartin, the Rhode Island Department of Transportation and AT&T will mark the day by kicking off the “Txtng & Drivng…It Can Wait” public awareness campaign at Cranston High School East. Kilmartin, Cranston Mayor Allan Fung, transportation officials, the RI State Police, and others will talk about the dangers of distracted driving and share a documentary on the topic from 9:30 to 10:30 am. After the documentary, students will be asked to sign a pledge that they will not text while driving.  Police depatments everywhere — including Bristol and Warren Police — are on the lookout for drivers who text. Offenders face a fine of up to $100.

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On the Street

On the Street: That's Gonna Leave a Mark

Distracted driver flips car on Thames Street

If there is some sort of late-night disturbance here in Bristol, odds are good that it is happening in my neighborhood. So I wasn't surprised to see flashers light up the night around 11:30pm on Wednesday.  Bristol Police on the scene said the driver escaped serious injury -- especially remarkable since at first appearance he looked to have been ejected from the vehicle. Then I heard the alleged cause, which makes me think that the driver has bigger problems than a wrecked car. The completely unofficial, overheard, off-the-cuff word from an unidentified first responder was that this Thames St. crackup was an admitted case of DWT – Driving While Texting. According to a Virginia Tech study, driving while texting is actually more dangerous …

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