Crackdown on driving with cell phones

Hartford, Conn. (WTNH) - State and local police are warning you not to drive while making a phone call, sending a text or doing anything that takes your eyes off the road.

It's the beginning of what could be a nationwide campaign to stop distracted drivers.

"Drivers who use hand held devices are 4 times more likely to be involved in an accident resulting in injuries," said Lt. Robert Allan of the Hartford Police Department.

Distracted driving accidents killed nearly 6,000 people in 2008 alone, so it's dangerous and it can be expensive. A ticket in Connecticut can cost you up to $100 plus court costs. Many Connecticut residents say it bothers them too. "I probably saw one out of every three cars on the cell phone driving in, and it's very annoying," said Peter Walbert of Bloomfield.

"We believe this is the way we will get cell phones out of people's ears and blackberries out of their hands, save a lot of injuries and save a lot of lives," said Ray LaHood, U.S. Secretary of Transportation.

LaHood is joining Hartford area police in trying to get people to obey the law, but not just with more tickets, with more education. The line for the new campaign is: "Phone in one hand, ticket in the other." If it works here, it could go nationwide to try to stop the epidemic of distracted driving.

"The reason it's an epidemic is because everybody in America has a cell phone and many people believe they can use their cell phones and their blackberries while they drive their automobiles," added LaHood.