Rep Hovey: Attention Must Be Paid To Distracted Driving

HARTFORD — Distracted driving continues to be a problem in Connecticut, State Representative DebraLee Hovey (R-112) announced in a January 24 release. Rep Hovey represents one southerly voting district in Newtown and all of Monroe, as well as serving on the legislature’s Transportation Committee.

Rep Hovey said a number of legislative measures have helped Connecticut achieve a 62 percent reduction in teen driving fatalities over the past ten years. 

“The statistics bear out that we are going in the right direction,” said Rep Hovey. “New law like the graduated licensing program which allows teens to gradually increase their driving privileges to full licensure has clearly saved lives. Yet distracted driving continues to be a problem that we need to focus on.”

Rep Hovey noted that the most common distraction while driving remains using cellphones, and in particular, texting, both of which are illegal in Connecticut.

Last December, Rep Hovey hosted a forum on distracted driving at Masuk High School in Monroe.  More than 300 high school sophomores attended the forum, which included presentations from School Resource Officer John Yaworowski and Jamie Sanchez, who gave a story of personal tragedy from his experience of driving while distracted.

“The purpose of this forum was to bring home the message to kids that a split second can mean the difference between life and death, quite literally,” said Rep Hovey. “Mr Sanchez told a terribly moving story of how his failure to pay attention while driving cost another driver their life.  If you survive such an accident, you have to live with the horrible knowledge that you caused a senseless death.”

Masuk was also the first place winner in a statewide PSA competition in 2010 after students there created a safe driving video public service announcement for fellow teens about the perils of distracted driving.

Apart from the possible tragic consequences, Rep Hovey pointed out that the legal consequences are also significant. 

“If you are under the age of 18 and you text or use a cellphone while driving, you get a 30-day suspension of your license and a $175 license restoration fee and court fines,” she said. “Additional offenses extend the suspension period. Reckless driving can result in the loss of your license for up to a year.  If the possibility of tragedy doesn’t register with teens, hopefully the possible loss of the ability to drive will.”

For more details visit www.rephovey.com.