Boise police calling out distracted drivers

Boise police announced Thursday they will make a concerted effort to identify and cite distracted drivers as part of the state’s Attentive Driving Mobilization program this month.

They referred to 2014 data showing the hazards of distracted driving as the reason to raise awareness on the issue and cut down on the problem.

In 2014, more than 4,700 crashes in Idaho were caused by distracted driving, resulting in 39 deaths and more than 3,200 injuries. BPD also noted that 52 percent of the people who died in distracted driving accidents between 2010 and 2014 were not wearing their seatbelt.

The agency’s tips for not being distracted while you drive: Don’t take your hands off the wheel, do keep your eyes on the road, focus on driving, keep your seatbelt on and if you’re a passenger with a distracted driver, call them out.

The statewide campaign, led by the Idaho Transportation Department Office of Highway Safety, will run from April 1 to April 11, according to BPD.

This story was originally published April 1, 2016 at 7:09 AM with the headline "Boise police calling out distracted drivers."