Illinois State Police (ISP) Troop 5 Commander, Capt. Tim Sweeney, announces the ISP will conduct Distracted Driving Enforcement Program patrols in Kankakee, Iroquois, Ford, Livingston and McLean Counties on November 13th, 14th, 21st, and 27th. This program allows ISP 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 (non-alcoholic beverages) 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. • Reading a text message can take a driver’s eyes off the road for an average of five seconds. Officers will be on the lookout for drivers who disobey Illinois’ distracted driving laws, especially the following: • All drivers are prohibited from reading, sending, or receiving text messages or communication, and from browsing the internet. • All drivers are prohibited from using handheld electronic communication devices. • Drivers under the age of 19 are prohibited from using any cellphone, even hands-free. • All drivers are prohibited from using any cellphone, even hands-free, while in school speed zones and work zones. • School bus drivers are not permitted to use any type of cellphone, even hands-free. • It is illegal to use a cellphone or take photos or videos on wireless devices when driving within 500 feet of an emergency scene. This distracted driving enforcement campaign is made possible by traffic safety funds administered by the Illinois Department of Transportation.

llinois State Police (ISP) Troop 5 Commander, Capt. Tim Sweeney, announces the ISP will conduct Special Traffic Enforcement Patrols (sTEP) in Kankakee, Iroquois, and Ford, Livingston, and McLean Counties on November 12th, 17th, 19th, 22nd, 24th, and 26th. These sTEPs allow the ISP to focus on these fatal four violations which contribute the greatest to traffic crashes and fatalities: - Driving Under the Influence (DUI); - Safety Belt and Child Restraint use; - Speeding; and, - Distracted Driving. The ISP will increase our daytime and nighttime patrols to ensure the safety of vehicle travelers through enforcement of all traffic safety laws. Impaired driving is a factor in more than 30 percent of traffic deaths in Illinois. Likewise, speeding is a factor in nearly 35 percent of fatal crashes; and, nearly 50 percent of vehicle occupants killed in traffic crashes were known to not be buckled up. This project is funded through the Illinois Department of Transportation.

Illinois State Police (ISP) Troop 5 Commander, Capt. Tim Sweeney, announces the ISP will conduct Special Traffic Enforcement Patrols (sTEP) in Kankakee, Iroquois, and Ford, Livingston, and McLean Counties on November 12th, 17th, 19th, 22nd, 24th, and 26th. These sTEPs allow the ISP to focus on these fatal four violations which contribute the greatest to traffic crashes and fatalities: - Driving Under the Influence (DUI); - Safety Belt and Child Restraint use; - Speeding; and, - Distracted Driving. The ISP will increase our daytime and nighttime patrols to ensure the safety of vehicle travelers through enforcement of all traffic safety laws. Impaired driving is a factor in more than 30 percent of traffic deaths in Illinois. Likewise, speeding is a factor in nearly 35 percent of fatal crashes; and, nearly 50 percent of vehicle occupants killed in traffic crashes were known to not be buckled up. This project is funded through the Illinois Department of Transportation