HOPKINTON — The Hopkinton Police Department is set to conduct a high-visibility enforcement and education campaign throughout April to curb distracted driving. This initiative is made possible by a traffic safety grant from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety and Security (EOPSS) and the Office of Grants and Research (OGR).
It aligns with a statewide effort to significantly reduce crashes, injuries, and fatalities. These occur when a driver’s attention is diverted from the road. Importantly, it underscores the vital message that driving always demands total focus.
Grant-Funded Patrols Target High-Risk Corridors
Officers will use grant funding to assign additional personnel to overtime for targeted patrols at specific roadways and intersections. Traffic Safety Supervisor, Sgt. Cody Normandin highlighted the data-driven approach: “Crash data from 2022-2024 reveals that 48% of our town’s electronic device-related crashes took place along the Main St corridor. To enhance both pedestrian and traffic safety, this area is a priority for our enforcement program.”
Enforcement Paired With Public Education
The campaign will specifically monitor violations such as texting while driving and improper cell phone use. These enforcement actions are paired with public education. The goal is to remind drivers that even minor distractions can lead to severe, sometimes tragic, outcomes.
Full Attention on the Road — Every Time
“This grant empowers us to place extra officers on the road specifically to address distracted driving, a dangerous behavior that jeopardizes everyone,” stated Deputy Chief Scott van Raalten. “No text message or notification is worth the cost of a crash, an injury, or a life.
The recent vehicle crash into a house on Wood St. on March 16th serves as a stark reminder of these dangers. Our primary goal is not simply to issue citations. Instead, we aim to impress upon drivers that their full, undivided attention must remain on the road. They must also focus on the people around them when they are operating a vehicle,” Deputy Chief van Raalten added.
Federal Support and Community Commitment
This effort is supported by federal highway safety funds, which are managed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and administered locally by EOPSS’s Office of Grants and Research. The Hopkinton Police Department is committed to collaborating with its state and local partners. Together, they aim to improve roadway safety for all residents, workers, and travelers in the Town of Hopkinton…