Oswego Police Talk About Distracted Driving Campaign Results

OSWEGO, IL—The State of Illinois’ third annual Education and Enforcement Campaign may be over, but the Oswego Police Department still wants to look at ways to bring greater awareness to distracted driving. The results show Oswego Police issued 32 citations and 10 warnings for unlawful use of electronic communication device during Distracted Driving Awareness Week, which was April 21-27.

During that week, officers focused on enforcement and education.

Cathy Nevara, public information officer for the Oswego Police Department, said it is important to recognize Distracted Driving Awareness Week “because education is the number one way we will get people to recognize how dangerous this behavior is.”

Results show females accounted for 62 percent of the violators and drivers aged 31-50 accounted for 59 percent.

Nevara said that comparing this year’s results to the year prior does not indicate much of a difference.

“Females still the majority receiving tickets, and drivers aged 31-50 still majority,” she said.

Social media was another aspect of the campaign highlighted by Oswego Police.

“We noticed a slight increase with comments from the public voicing their support for focusing on distracted drivers,” Nevara said.

The Oswego Police Department did not report any violations of Scott’s Law, which requires motorists to proceed with caution and changes lanes, if possible, when approaching any police or emergency vehicle stopped along the roadway.

Nevara said they are looking forward to a three-month distracted driving campaign that will run from June through August.

“Our goal is to make Oswego roadways safer,” she said. “We hope that this one-week campaign will catapult us into the summer event.”