During the next few weeks, Acton Police will be increasing enforcement of crosswalk violations, distracted driving, and speeding in particular, with an eye on increasing safety throughout the community.

Chief Cogan would like to remind all drivers to watch their speed and to stop for pedestrians in crosswalks. Chief Cogan is also reminding drivers to obey state law regarding the handheld use of cellular phones and other electronic devices, because distracted driving is a frequent contributor to serious motor vehicle crashes.

The Acton Police Department would like to provide the following safe driving tips from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration:

• Don’t text and drive. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that the average text takes your eyes off the road for five seconds, or the length of a football field while traveling at 55 mph.
• If you can, keep your phone off while behind the wheel. This will help to ensure the driver’s focus remains solely on the road. According to the NHTSA, engaging in tasks like reaching for your phone, dialing, and texting increases the risk of crashing threefold.
• Obey the speed limit. Speeding is a major cause of crashes. Don’t feel pressured to speed to keep up with traffic or friends on the road. Speeding tickets can be pricey and will result in an increase on your car insurance premium.
• Be a defensive driver. Always remain cognizant of traffic ahead, behind, and next to your vehicle at all times. Stay at least one car length behind the car in front of you, especially in areas where the speed limit is slower. Remember to split the road with cyclists, even if shared lanes are not marked. Turn your headlights on to increase visibility.

For additional driving safety tips, visit the NHTSA website here - https://www.nhtsa.gov/