New Castle Town Supervisor Rob Greenstein has announced that New Castle will have zero tolerance for distracted driving. Rob Greenstein stated, “New Castle is willing to take a leadership role in fighting this growing destructive behavior. We have begun implementing initiatives we hope surrounding areas will consider as well. We are also working with Chappaqua residents Ben and Debbie Lieberman, who know all too much about this topic. They lost their nineteen (19) year old son Evan following a car collision caused by distracted driving. The Lieberman’s set up an organization to combat distracted driving known as “DORCs”–“Distracted Operators Risk Casualties.”
Ben Lieberman stated “We believe there is a need to tackle distracted driving in a similar fashion to how drunk driving was addressed decades ago. When we as a nation finally understood how lethal drunken driving was, and how vulnerable the innocent population was, we were outraged enough to do something about this behavior, both legally and socially. In a lot of ways we need to show more urgency with this current threat because Smartphone technology is so new and it is constantly evolving.”
New Castle Police Chief Charles Ferry added,“We have scheduled enforcement details with a start date the week of September 29th. We plan to schedule 2 details a week for 4 weeks then review the success.”
Supervisor Rob Greenstein said, “In order to spread the message and warn motorists, we will be introducing banners throughout town, and giving out car magnets. There will also be decals on all police cruisers. We are going to use the next two weeks to alert everyone about this initiative but our message is simple: 5 points on your license / 0 tolerance for distracted driving / 1 choice in New Castle!
The Secretary of Transportation has called Distracted Driving “a national epidemic” and Police Chief Ferry has ideas to combat the behavior locally. The enforcement detail is designed as a deterrent but there is also an important need to identify mobile devices as the cause for collisions when appropriate. He plans to also implement a protocol, education and police checklist to help officers identify and document texting/cell phone use as part of their routine accident investigation. Ben Lieberman stated “Surprisingly, we have witnessed first-hand that there is wide-spread, very little police protocol in place to determine whether the phone is a factor in collisions. There are no Breathalyzer Tests for distracted operation, and police should be alert to the possibility that texting or other distracted driving may have been involved or else the statistics will remain inaccurate.”
New Castle resident Lynne Lambert stated “Wonderful initiative! The Liebermans lost their son due to an accident caused by a friend who was texting while driving. Hearing this family’s heart-wrenching story of losing such a fine young man in his prime would make anyone with a heart realize how this selfish behavior has got to stop. Estimates are that distracted driving is now out-stripping DUI as a cause of accidents. The reasons seem to be that there is not the social stigma (and also tougher laws) which MADD and other organizations succeeded in building against DUI. That is why they have founded “DORC.” – Distracted Operators Risk Casualties – to help change both the laws and the behavior. I hope that these banners will remind our residents to THINK, and WAIT until they are safely off the road before texting or talking on their cell phone, unless its hands free. It REALLY can wait. Don’t risk killing yourself or others. Please.”
DORCs is committed to changing behavior through educating the public, advocating for enforcement and fighting for legislation. Keep the DORCs off the road! http://www.dorcs.org
For more information contact:
New Castle Town Supervisor Rob Greenstein at 917-750-2771 / RGreenstein@MyNewCastle.org
Chief of Police Charles Ferry 914-238-4686 / CFerry@MyNewCastle.org
Ben Lieberman 914-450-6868 / blieberman@me.com
