For Immediate Release – October 26, 2026
Illinois State Police to Conduct Distracted Driving Enforcement Patrols
EFFINGHAM – Illinois State Police (ISP) Troop 9 Commander, Captain Bruce Waggoner, announces the ISP will conduct Distracted Driving Enforcement Program patrols in Effingham and Wayne counties during November. This program allows ISP to focus on distracted driving laws to prevent traffic deaths and serious injury crashes.
Distracted Driving is doing another activity that takes the driver’s attention away from driving. Distractions can increase a driver’s risk of being in an accident. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration:
-Over 3,000 people annually are killed in crashes involving distracted driving.
-Reading a text message can take a driver’s eyes off the road for an average of five seconds.
-Nearly 1 in every 10 injury crashes involved a distracted driver.
Officers will be on the lookout for drivers who disobey Illinois’ distracted driving laws.
-All drivers are prohibited from reading, sending, or receiving text messages or communication, video streaming, and from browsing the internet.
-All drivers are prohibited from using handheld electronic communication devices.
-Drivers under the age of 18 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 project is funded through the Illinois Department of Transportation.
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