COHASSET — Chief William Quigley is pleased to announce that the Cohasset Police Department has recently received a $5,000 grant to support post-pandemic mental health.
This grant was awarded to 15 communities in Norfolk County by District Attorney Michael W. Morrissey.
“A significant portion of our calls for service involve individuals in crisis due to mental and behavioral health issues,” Chief Quigley said. “With the rise of the COVID-19 pandemic and increased social isolation, we have also seen a rise in these types of reports. This grant funding could not be more timely, and with it, we will be able to better serve our community and provide the proper care to those who need it.”
The grant funding will allow the department to contract with a licensed social worker, who will provide assessment and referral services for people in or approaching crisis. The social worker will also provide guidance to town departments, including police, fire, public health and elder affairs. The remaining funding will go toward providing field training for officers, who are often the first ones in contact with people in crisis.
“We try to target our community reinvestment dollars where our towns identify the greatest need,” District Attorney Morrissey said. “Coming out of the pandemic year, our partners in the schools and town departments have made it very clear that the deepest need is mental health support and services.”
The Cohasset Police Department has been awarded a grant to increase distracted driving patrols during Distracted Driving Awareness Month in April. Pictured is CPD Officer Brendan Skerry, conducting enforcement along Route 3A at Lower King Street approaching a violator. (Photo courtesy Cohasset Police Department)
April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month
COHASSET– Chief William Quigley and the Cohasset Police Department are pleased to announce that the department has been awarded a grant from the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security’s Office of Grants and Research (OGR) to increase the number of distracted driving patrols during April’s Distracted Driving Awareness Month.
Cohasset Police will join other departments across the state, along with the Massachusetts Department of State Police, in the national Distracted Driving enforcement campaign.
“Unfortunately, distracted driving continues to be one of the most dangerous activities drivers engage in while behind the wheel, and it’s a problem plaguing every city and town in the state,” Chief Quigley said. “Cohasset Police are committed to doing whatever we can to reduce distracted driving in our community, and this grant will help us do that. We are grateful to receive this support from the state.”
Although data points to distracted driving being on the decline, traffic safety experts believe driver inattention is still a significant factor in motor vehicle crashes and fatalities:
From 2016-2020, 168 people died in crashes involving a distracted driver in Massachusetts.
Fatalities in a crash involving a distracted driver from 2016-2020 were 9.5% of all traffic fatalities reported during the same period.
The five-year average of crashes involving a distracted driver in Massachusetts has declined nearly 2% from 11,098 for 2015-2019, to 10,885 for 2016-2020.
From 2016-2020, serious injuries were reported in 1.8% of all crashes involving a distracted driver. Minor injuries were reported in 13.4% of all crashes involving a distracted driver.
The five-year average of crashes involving a distracted driver using an electronic device (operating or talking) dropped 5.5% from 3,413 for 2015-2019, to 3,226 for 2016-2020.
From 2016-2020, serious injuries were reported in 1.6% of crashes involving a distracted driver using an electronic device. Minor injuries were reported in 13.1% of crashes during the same period.
From 2016-2020, nearly 70% of all distracted driving-involved fatalities occurred between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. The period from noon to 2:59 p.m. was the most dangerous, with 35 of the 168 deaths accounting for 20.8% of fatalities.
From 2016-2020, pedestrians accounted for 49 of the distracted driver-involved crash fatalities. This is an 18.3% decline from the 60 pedestrian fatalities reported from 2015-2019.
Of the 49 pedestrians killed in a distracted driver-involved crash from 2016-2020, 24 were age 65 or older. There were only four pedestrian deaths under age 15.
“We are constantly distracted by electronic devices and communications in our everyday lives. These distractions are most dangerous when we’re behind the wheel,” said Kevin Stanton, Executive Director of the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security’s OGR. “We urge drivers to place their cell phones out of reach so that they can focus on safe driving.”
Hands-Free Law
Vehicles without built-in GPS, Apple Car Play, or Android Audio must be equipped with a phone mount on the dash or windshield for GPS navigation. To properly equip your vehicle, here are the options (most are powered by vehicle cigarette lighter port):
Vehicles without Bluetooth or an Aux port: Standalone hands-free device with built-in Bluetooth, speaker, and microphone; Bluetooth adapter with FM transmitter to use car speakers for audio (some come with a microphone; others rely on the phone’s microphone); Single-ear earpiece with Bluetooth to pair with a phone for calls; Replacement head unit (if available) that includes either Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, or Bluetooth.
Vehicles with An Aux port, but without Bluetooth: Bluetooth adapter that plugs into the cigarette lighter and includes a cable for connecting to aux port for phone audio. Some include microphones and a dash-mountable button to answer calls. Others rely on the phone’s microphone.
Vehicles Equipped with Bluetooth: A phone mount is all you need for GPS navigation. All phone communication can be routed through the Bluetooth connection.
To fully comply with the law, using a voice assistant on the phone or through the car’s infotainment system is required. Both Apple’s Siri and Google Assistant must be enabled and used to issue commands to place calls, listen to text messages and respond to text messages.
The OGR offers these additional tips for motorists not using hands-free technology:
Before driving, turn your phone off and put it out of reach
Set your phone to “Do Not Disturb While Driving” mode
Let your friends and family know that you’ll be driving and can’t take their calls or texts
If you have to make a call or send a text, pull over
Watch for pedestrians and bicyclists – especially at night
Remember to buckle up. Seat belts are your best defense against a distracted driver
