by Dennis Dalman
editor@thenewsleaders.com
Inattentive driving is definitely a widespread problem, according to a recent four-day saturation patrol by law enforcement of the Hwy. 15 section connecting south Sartell and north St. Cloud.
Sartell Police Chief Jim Hughes told the Sartell City Council at its Jan. 9 meeting that the most common infractions by drivers during the four-day patrol were for texting while driving, using some other kind of electronic device while driving and running red lights.
People not paying attention seems to be causing a lot of accidents, Hughes noted.
“It’s a pretty good indication of why we’re having so many crashes out on our highways,” Hughes told the council, adding that enforcement against inattentive driving will continue.
“We obviously don’t want to see any more fatalities or serious injuries as we’ve already had in the past few months.”
Hughes said “several hundred” drivers were stopped during the saturation-coverage enforcement blitz. It occurred on Hwy. 15 from Benton CR 29 S. through the Hwy. 10 area of north St. Cloud.
The law-enforcement agencies that participated in the effort were the police departments from Sartell, Sauk Rapids and St. Cloud; deputies from the Stearns and Benton sheriff’s departments; and members of the State Patrol.
