Editorial: Arlington police make a statement on distracted driving

Police departments are sometimes accused of being more interested in collecting fines than promoting safety.

Speed traps come to mind. So do holiday roadblocks. It may not be fair to complain, but many do, even when those roadblocks get drunken drivers off the road.

Unsafe drivers come in many forms, though. And using cellphones while driving is all too common and among the most dangerous ways to distract a driver's attention.

That's why a program announced this week by the Arlington Heights Police Department is novel and worthy of emulation.

Normally, as reporter Christopher Placek wrote in a story published Tuesday, drivers caught texting and driving could face a $120 ticket. But this innovative department is instead going to give those drivers a warning and a cellphone cradle in an effort to get that phone out of their hands and change their behavior moving forward.

"Citations can still be issued, but this is another option officers have," Sgt. Ed Commers said. "We're trying to educate the public on the dangers of distracted driving."

The program will run through Nov. 1 and also be done around Christmas.

It's a worthy investment of time on the police department's part and a worthy community service by Napleton Auto Group, which purchased 2,000 cradles as part of a smart partnership with the police department. And don't wait to get pulled over - you can call Napleton at (847) 298-0900 to secure a cradle while supplies last.

Need some statistics to help you decide? The police department says use of a cellphone while driving increases the chance of getting into a crash by 400 percent.

In 2015 alone, 3,477 people were killed, and 391,000 were injured in motor vehicle crashes involving distracted drivers, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The same agency says approximately 660,000 drivers are using a cellphone during daylight hours.

During the past two years, Arlington Heights police have issued more than 3,000 citations for using an electronic communication device while driving.

Using a hand-held phone has been illegal in Illinois since Jan. 1, 2014. We are encouraged that communities like Arlington Heights are taking the danger of distracted driving seriously and seeking to educate and change behavior.

It will take time to do so, though. Two years ago, 40 Daily Herald staffers stood watch at intersections around the suburbs and in the course of an hour witnessed more than 1,000 examples of motorists overtly talking or texting on mobile phones. We'd like to think that number may be less in 2017, but it's pretty clear this is an ongoing issue that needs constant attention.