Marina PD: Put phone away, ease up on gas pedal

UPDATE 4/7/2016 5:45 PM:

The Marina Police Department is cracking down on distracted driving and speeding.

On Thursday, the department had extra officers out patrolling problem areas. Fifty-one cars were stopped with 38 drivers cited for speeding or distracted driving. Three people were busted for driving with a suspended license. One driver was caught going nearly 30 miles over the posted speed limit.

Police say last year, more than half of the traffic incidents reported happened on Imjin Parkway, Reservation Road and Del Monte Boulevard.

“Imjin is highly traveled,” said Sgt. Eddie Anderson, a supervisor with the department’s Traffic Bureau. “It’s only two lanes at one portion of Imjin. So as traffic gets heavier, our crashes tend to increase.

Last year there were more than 80 incidents on Imjin. More than 60 incidents were reported on Reservation Road. While Del Monte Boulevard. is just a busy thoroughfare through town, speeding is the major problem on Reservation. Earlier this week, a speeding driver crashed, police said.

“Unable to stop in time, swerved to avoid hitting vehicles and ultimately ended up off the roadway and rolling over,” said Anderson.

Anderson adds speeding, combined with tailgating, is the leading cause of rear-end collisions in the city.

Members of the Monterey Regional Strategic Traffic Operations and Prevention Program, or STOPP, helped with Thursday’s patrols. Every month, the team focuses on different programs roadways throughout the area, in hopes of reducing the number of crashes.

To ensure the safety of yourself and others, the Marina Police Department recommends the following safety measures:

You can:
• Turn off electronic devices and put them out of reach before starting to drive
• Speak up when the driver uses an electronic device while driving. Offer to make the call for the driver, so his or her full attention stays on the task of driving
• Utilize a vehicle hands-free system or any other type of hands-free device

Parents can:
• Be good role models for young drivers by setting a good example. Talk with teens about responsible driving
• If a parent knows their teen is on the road – don’t call or text them until they know they have reached their destination

Employers can:
• Adopt, publicize, and enforce company policies that prohibit employees from texting or talking on hand-held cellphones while in a company vehicle or in a personal vehicle while using a company-issued cellphone.

ORIGINAL POST:

Drivers in Marina likely noticed more police officers patrolling the Thursday morning commute.

Officers stepped up enforcement for distracted driving and speeding, noting that the two crimes are serious safety problems.

Just this week, Marina police responded to a crash on Reservation Road. Police said the driver was speeding and had to swerve to avoid crashing into other cars. The driver went off the road, rolling the car.

When it comes to cellphone use and driving, the Marina Police Department wrote, “While anything that takes your eyes off the road, hands off the wheel, or mind off the task of driving, is a hazard, there is heightened concern about the risks of texting while driving because it combines all three types of distraction – visual, manual and cognitive.”

On Thursday, officers focused on Reservation Road, Imjin Parkway, and Del Monte Boulevard. KION’s Mariana Hicks will have more on which roads police say are the most dangerous.