AACo Police Crack Down On Distracted Driving

MILLERSVILLE, MD — Officers with the Anne Arundel County Police Department's Traffic Safety Section conducted a crackdown on distracted and aggressive driving on Tuesday, April 23. The enforcement patrol took place during the morning rush hour on Route 10.

The effort was to support a Maryland Highway Safety Office program called ADAPT (Aggressive Drivers Are Public Threats), the Police Department said in a statement.

From 6 to 11 a.m. on April 23, officers used marked and unmarked cars, as well as radar and laser speed measuring equipment, to make 69 traffic stops and issue 40 citations and 32 warnings, the police said. The offenses ranged from holding a cell phone, speeding, improper passing, and failing to obey traffic control devices.

The police also made two arrests for driving on a suspended license.

This enforcement action was "a continuation of directed enforcement patrols conducted on various county highways in 2018 targeting aggressive and distracted driving," the police said.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Maryland Highway Safety Office have designated April as National Distracted Driving Awareness month. Distracted driving is one of the fastest-growing safety issues on the roads today.

"Distracted drivers aren’t just a threat to themselves: They’re a danger to everyone else on the road," the police said. "The nationwide distracted driving effort focuses on changing the behavior of drivers through enforcement, public awareness and education.

"Additional enforcement waves will be conducted on various county roadways focused on deterring aggressive and distracted driving," the police said.

Citizens observing any vehicles operated in a careless or reckless manner are asked to contact the Anne Arundel Police Department by calling 911 or the non-emergency number: 410 222-8610.