The Illinois State Police will be conducting Distracted Driving Enforcement patrols in October. The program, supported by the National Traffic Safety Administration, allows troopers to focus on distracted driving laws to prevent traffic deaths and serious injury crashes.

Distractions can increase a driver’s risk of being in an accident: Eating or drinking increases the risk by three times, sending a text message increases the risk by four times, reaching for an object increases the risk by eight times.

Officers will be on the lookout for drivers who disobey Illinois’ distracted driving laws, especially those reading, sending, or receiving text messages or communication, and from browsing the internet, and all drivers are prohibited from using handheld electronic communication devices.

Troopers also enforce the drunk driving laws and making sure you’re buckled up.

94.1 WGFA