NYS must increase distracted driving penalties

Is driving distracted deadly? You bet it is. So why doesn’t Albany treat it that way?

In New York State, a first-time conviction for driving while using a cellphone carries a fine between $50 and $200. A first-time driving while intoxicated conviction can result in a fine of $500 to $1,000 plus up to a year in jail and revocation of a license for at least 6 months.

Many researchers suggest distracted driving is almost as dangerous as driving while intoxicated. So why the disparity in New York’s penalties?

April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month, and most local law enforcement agencies are participating this week by adding checkpoints and patrols, including by unmarked cars, to catch drivers using electronic devices while driving. Suffolk County, the state police and some villages have announced added enforcement from April 7-14. The Nassau County Police Department didn’t respond to an editorial board request for its plans.

Distracted driving is deadly, claiming 3,275 lives nationally in 2023, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. State police said they issued 4,056 tickets during last year’s Operation Hang Up campaign.

Newsday’s investigative series Dangerous Roads makes a compelling case that distracted driving must be addressed. While there are numerous reasons our roads are so dangerous — more than 2,100 were killed in the decade ending in 2023 — the series found distracted driving was a factor in as many as 11% of fatal crashes. Experts say this might be an undercount.

It’s been noted that distracted driving is the younger generation’s version of drunken driving. Younger people are far more likely than others to use electronics while driving. But that also increases hope that progress can be made on reducing distracted driving, just as progress was made in reducing alcohol consumption among younger generations. That's why increased education to teach students about the serious dangers of driving while using electronics is so important. These outreach programs should include law enforcement professionals with expertise and experience to clearly explain the risks and dangers of driving while distracted.

"We live in a modern society of constant distraction," Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine said in a statement. "The one place to maintain focus — to save lives — is when you’re behind the wheel. The SCPD is out there looking for those who put others' lives in danger on our roads. We will continue to provide every resource necessary for law enforcement to hold distracted and dangerous drivers accountable."

The state needs a similar commitment. Lawmakers must increase penalties for driving while distracted. According to state police, a third such offense in 18 months "results in a maximum fine of $450." That’s simply not a strong enough deterrent. The state's "Put the Phone Away or Pay" slogan will only be effective if the state gets serious about stopping driving while distracted, just as we've tried to do with driving under the influence. Our lives depend on it.