news-record.com

RALEIGH — The Highway Patrol will pay special attention this week to Triangle drivers who aren't paying enough attention.

On Wednesday and Thursday, the patrol will conduct a campaign to crack down on distracted drivers. Troopers will be on Interstates 95 and 40 in marked and unmarked vehicles from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday.

On Thursday, the effort will continue on those highways, plus Interstate 85.

In 2009, 5,474 people died nationwide in crashes involving distracted drivers, according to the patrol.

North Carolina's troopers will look for drivers involved in activities that could take their attention away from the road, said Highway Patrol 1st Sgt. Jeff Gordon.

"A lot of people think distracted driving is just texting, but it can mean so many other things," Gordon said. "I've seen people driving with their Kindles propped up on the steering wheel, shaving, putting on makeup. Even eating and drinking is dangerous."

Though the focus of this week's campaign is distractions, troopers also will enforce infractions such as following too closely, careless and reckless driving, and speeding -- the top cause of all accidents across the nation.

Texting, of course, is illegal while operating a vehicle in North Carolina. Gordon said the average text takes 4.6 seconds. So, if a car is going 55 mph, a short text message would mean a driver is going the length of a football field with eyes off the road.