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By Douglas McCulloch
Hometown Weekly Staff
Over the past few weeks, the Westwood Police Department has been cracking down on distracted driving on Westwood roads.
The Westwood Police Department, along with many police departments across the state, received a $2,500 grant from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety to conduct several initiatives to raise awareness of the dangers of distracted driving.
From April 8 to April 29, Westwood officers were out in force targeting enforcement of the state’s distracted driving laws. According to Westwood Police Det. Paul Toland, 54 vehicle stops have been made for distracted driving from the start of the project to April 21.
Toland noted that distracted driving encompasses more than texting while driving; it includes everything from adjusting GPS units to eating.
“You might not be texting, but you might be inputting an address into Google Maps,” Toland said. “It extends beyond the texting and driving component.”
During the operation, Westwood officers were on the lookout for drivers who were distracted by electronic devices. Enforcement methods varied, with some officers keeping an extra eye out for distracted drivers during their routine patrols, while other officers stationed at intersections looked out for drivers using electronic devices at red lights.
Toland noted that distracted driving is a serious problem with serious consequences, something he feels some drivers do not realize.
“People in general many times have an idea that nothing bad is going to happen to them, but in reality taking their eyes off the road for even a brief amount of time puts them and other motorists at risk,” Toland said.
To help educate high school students about the dangers of distracted driving, Westwood Police Chief Jeffrey Silva and Sgt. Paul Sicard visited with students at Xaverian Brothers’ Students Against Drunk Driving club.
The officers discussed how important always being alert and focused while at the wheel is, and reminded students about the state’s distracted driving laws, with special attention paid to how the law affects drivers under the age of 18.
