Fort Bragg cracks down on distracted drivers

FORT BRAGG (WTVD) -- "Put the phone down!" It's a message Fort Bragg is driving home to soldiers and civilians on post.

Unlike state laws, it's illgeal for drivers, of any age, to text or talk on the phone while driving on post, and based on the increasing number of wrecks, not too many people seem to be aware.

Wednesday, Fayetteville reporter Morgan Norwood was invited to ride along with military police as they kicked off their crackdown on distracted drivers.

Fort Bragg Officials tell ABC11 they've issued 3,090 speeding tickets, 233 electronic device violations, investigated 199 serious accidents, and enrolled 2,110 drivers in its driver improvement program; 140 of those drivers lost their driving privileges.

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Those startling statistics are why Fort Bragg Military Police are increasing patrols.

Our cameras were rolling as police issued tickets to violators, and the results were shocking.

Officers were visibly patrolling the area in marked vehicles, yet drivers were still on their phones, texting and speeding through school zones.

That's why Fort Bragg is looking to tighten the punishment for traffic law violations for both civilians and soldiers.

"Distracted drivers are quickly outpacing drunk drivers for our causes of accidents," said Fort Bragg Spokesman Tom McCollum. "The command here has had enough of it. We're really cracking down on people and really making the fines a little tighter and there are even more proposals to make it extremely tight, including our civilians."

McCollum tells ABC11 that driving on post is a privilege, not a right and that driving privileges will be taken away if repeat offenders continue to drive recklessly on post.

Fort Bragg is also focusing on speeding in school zones as children return to the classrooms next week.