BOLO: Driving while in'text'icated

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Alyssa C. Wallace
  • 35th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan --  Beginning Oct. 15, members of the 35th Fighter Wing Safety Office and Security Forces Squadron will be on the lookout for individuals driving with their phone in hand.

"We are beginning enhanced safety measures on base as part of the Misawa Distracted Driving Campaign," said Lt. Col. Kevin Jones, 35 FW chief of safety. "There has been a recent increase in cell phone violations, and this campaign is addressing this trend."

Drivers caught talking on their phone or texting will lose their license for 30 days on the first offense and 180 days for each subsequent offense.

Although only 10 states in the U.S. have laws prohibiting drivers from using cell phones, the Air Force has its own policy when it comes to driving on an Air Force base.

Air Force Instruction 31-218 states any vehicle operator on a Department of Defense Installation and all government-owned vehicle drivers will "not use cell phones unless the vehicle is safely parked or unless they are using a hands-free device."

Wearing portable headphones, earphones or other listening devices (except for hands-free cell phones) while operating a motor vehicle is also forbidden. These items may keep a driver from noticing emergency signals, sirens, alarms, announcements, other vehicles or even a verbal warning from a pedestrian.

Other driving distractions, such as eating, drinking, operating radios, CD players and GPS navigation equipment is discouraged, but not illegal.

"People won't be stopped for drinking coffee or reaching back for their kids - that's not the purpose of the campaign," said Tech. Sgt. Logan McKeown, 35 FW NCO in charge of ground safety. "This is to bring awareness to all types of distracted driving and to provide a safe way forward for Misawa."

For more information on the distracted driving campaign, contact the safety office at 226-2702.