Griffo Takes Aim at Distracted Driving

As Americans hit the road for Memorial Day parades, family gatherings, community ceremonies and the unofficial start of summer, one New York lawmaker is urging drivers to put down their phones and pay attention.

New York State Sen. Joseph Griffo has introduced legislation aimed at creating stiffer penalties for distracted driving, a growing concern as highways become busier during the summer travel season. The bill comes as Memorial Day marks the beginning of what safety advocates often call the “100 Deadliest Days of Summer,” the stretch between Memorial Day and Labor Day when crash risks tend to rise, especially among teen drivers.

A Busy Weekend on the Roads

Memorial Day is one of the busiest travel weekends of the year, with millions of Americans driving to cemeteries, parades, cookouts, vacations and community events. With more cars on the road, law enforcement agencies across the country often increase patrols to target impaired, reckless and distracted driving.

For Griffo, the timing is no coincidence. He is using the holiday weekend as a reminder that one careless decision behind the wheel can change lives in seconds.

Distracted driving can include texting, scrolling, using a cellphone, checking a GPS, eating, adjusting music or doing anything else that pulls a driver’s eyes, hands or attention away from the road. But cellphone use remains one of the most visible and dangerous forms of distraction.

School Bus Crash Raises Concern

The issue was recently highlighted in New York after a pickup truck crashed into the rear of a Madison Central School District bus that had stopped with its warning lights activated.

According to State Police, the pickup truck driver became trapped in the vehicle and had to be extricated by emergency responders. He was taken to Wynn Hospital for treatment of minor injuries. Two juvenile passengers in the pickup truck were also transported for evaluation.

The driver of the school bus and two juvenile passengers on the bus were taken to Hamilton Hospital with minor injuries.

Following an investigation, State Police determined that the pickup truck driver had been following too closely and was distracted while operating the vehicle. He was issued multiple traffic tickets.

For many parents, school bus crashes are especially alarming because they involve children who are simply trying to get to or from school safely. Griffo said incidents like this show why stronger consequences may be needed.

What the Bill Would Do

Griffo’s legislation, Senate Bill S.10323, would create the offense of aggravated distracted driving in New York.

Under the proposal, individuals convicted of aggravated distracted driving could face fines ranging from $500 to $1,000, imprisonment for up to one year, or both. A conviction could also result in the revocation of the person’s driver’s license for six months.

The bill is currently in the Senate Transportation Committee and would take effect immediately if signed into law.

A Call for Safer Choices

Griffo said distracted driving continues to get worse as drivers pay more attention to their phones and other distractions than to the road in front of them.

“Distracted driving is becoming more of a problem each day with people paying more attention to their phones and other distractions rather than what is happening on the road,” Griffo said. “Not only does this put other drivers and pedestrians at risk, but also the driver and any passengers in their car.”

He said the goal is to discourage dangerous and careless behavior while encouraging motorists to stay alert, aware and focused.

As Memorial Day travel continues, the message is simple but important: the text can wait, the road cannot.