Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today continued the state's efforts to reduce distracted driving by unveiling special "Texting Zones" along the New York State Thruway and State Highways that will give motorists a pull-off area to park and use their mobile devices. Existing Park-n-Ride facilities, rest stops, and parking areas along the Thruway and Highways will dual-function as Texting Zones, and signage will be placed along the highway to inform drivers where the Zones are located. A total of 298 signs will be located along major highways across the state, notifying motorists to 91 Texting Zone locations.

In addition, the Governor today announced a 365% increase in tickets issued in summer 2013 compared to summer 2012 for distracted driving, a result of an extensive enforcement crackdown by the State Police. This summer, State Police issued 21,580 tickets, surpassing last summer's total of 5,208 tickets.

To view photos of the signage and press conference today, go to: http://www.flickr.com/photos/governorandrewcuomo/sets/72157635804750584/.

New York State is continuing to use every tool at its disposal to combat texting-while-driving, Governor Cuomo said. In addition to tougher penalties, new detection methods for State Police and ongoing public outreach efforts, we are now launching special Texting Zones to allow motorists to pull over and use their phones. These Zones will be identified with signs along the Thruway and State Highways, reminding drivers that there is a nearby opportunity for them to legally and safely use their phone. With this new effort, we are sending a clear message to drivers that there is no excuse to take your hands off the wheel and eyes off the road because your text can wait until the next Texting Zone.



The locations of the 91 Texting Zones are below:

County Highway Locality/Specific Location Albany I-87 New Baltimore Service Area Albany I-87 Rest Area - 3 miles south of Albany Clinton I-87 Beekmantown Clinton I-87 Point Au Roche Clinton I-87 Valcour Essex I-87 High Peaks NB Essex I-87 High Peaks SB Essex I 87 Elizabethtown Essex I 87 Lewis Rockland I-87 Ramapo Service Area Rockland I-87 Sloatsburg Service Area Saratoga I-87 Clifton Park Ulster I-87 Ulster Service Area Ulster I-87 Modena Service Area Ulster I-87 Plattekill Service Area Ulster I-87 Malden Service Area Ulster I-87 Rest Area - 11 miles south of Catskill Ulster I-87 Rest Area - 8 miles north of Kingston Warren I 87 Lake George Warren I-87 South Glens Falls Warren I-87 North Glens Falls Westchester I-87 Ardsley Service Area Cortland I-81 Preble Livingston I-390 Mt. Morris Livingston I-390 Geneseo Cattaraugus I-86 Allegany River Chautauqua I-86 Chautauqua L./Ellery Cattaraugus I 86 Randolph Cattaraugus I 86 Randolph Allegany I-86 Friendship Steuben I-86 Kanona Steuben I-86 Campbell Steuben I 390 Cohocton Steuben US Hwy 15/I86 Erwin Steuben I 86 Erwin Steuben I 86 Hornellsville Jefferson I-81 1000 Islands/Orleans Jefferson I-81 Watertown Jefferson I 81 Ellisburg Jefferson I 81 Ellisburg Jefferson I 81 Orleans Jefferson I 81 Pamelia Jefferson I 81 Pamelia Jefferson I 81 Pamelia Jefferson I 81 Watertown Orange I-84 Wallkill Orange I-84 Middletown Dutchess I-84 Stormville Dutchess I-84 Fishkill Putnam I-684 Brewster Weschester I-684 Bedford Orange I 84 Greenville Orange I 84 Greenville Chenango I-81 Whitney Point Tioga NY 17 Nichols Tioga NY 17 Owego Delaware NY 17 East Branch Sullivan NY 17 Roscoe Broome I-81 Penn State Line Otsego I-88 Unadilla Otsego I-88 East Worcester Suffolk I 495 Huntington Suffolk I 495 Huntington Cayuga I-90 Port Byron Service Area Erie I-90 Clarence Service Area Erie I-90 Angola Service Area EB Erie I-90 Angola Service Area WB Erie I-90 Rest Area - 2 miles east of Eden/Angola Erie I-90 Rest Area - 7 miles west of Hamburg Genesee I-90 Pembroke Service Area Herkimer I-90 Iroquois Service Area Herkimer I-90 Schuyler Service Area Herkimer I-90 Indian Castle Service Area Madison I-90 Chittenango Service Area Monroe I-90 Ontario Service Area Monroe I-90 Scottsville Service Area Montgomery I-90 Mohawk Service Area Montgomery I-90 Rest Area - 10 miles east of Canajoharie Montgomery I-90 Rest Area - 2 miles west of Fultonville Oneida I-90 Oneida Service Area Oneida I-90 Rest Area - 3 miles east of Verona Oneida I-90 Rest Area - 3 miles west of Verona Onondaga I-90 Warners Service Area Onondaga I-90 DeWitt Service Area Ontario I-90 Junius Ponds Ontario I-90 Seneca Service Area Ontario I-90 Clifton Springs Service Area Ontario I-90 Rest Area - 9 miles east of Rochester Schenectady I-90 Pattersonville Service Area Schenectady I-90 Guilderland Service Area Seneca I-90 Rest Area - 15 miles west of Weedsport

Thruway Authority Executive Director Thomas J. Madison said, The safety of motorists is our highest priority at the Thruway Authority, and 2012 was the safest year in Thruways six-decade history. We are always looking at new and better ways to make the highway even safer, and Governor Cuomos Text Stops initiative is an excellent way for drivers to stay in touch while recognizing the dangers of using mobile devices while driving.

New York State Department of Transportation Commissioner Joan McDonald said, This campaign is sending a clear message to motorists: It can wait. There is no text that is important enough to jeopardize a life, and anyone caught texting while driving will face stiff penalties. I want to thank Governor Cuomo for his leadership to fight distracted driving and make our roads safe for all users.

Results of Summer Crackdown on Distracted Driving

The summer crackdown, which started on the July 4th holiday weekend and lasted through the Labor Day weekend, consisted of increased enforcement and patrols, particularly through undercover operations using unmarked State Police SUVs to catch distracted drivers.

A breakdown of the numbers is as follows:



July 4 September 2

Year Cell Phone Texting Total Distracted 2013 16,027 5,553 21,580 2012 4,284 924 5,208

The campaign was in addition to two major efforts initiated by the Governor earlier this year to crack down on distracted driving increasing the penalty for distracted driving from three to five points on a drivers license and signing his legislation to increase license suspension and revocation periods for distracted driving on young and new drivers.

Superintendent Joseph A. DAmico said, "Our top priority is keeping motorists and pedestrians safe on New York's roadways and the new distracted driving law has helped us to do our job better. We told motorists we would be out there looking for violators and we found far too many. The accidents that result from the use of hand held devices are completely avoidable which is why we will continue to target distracted drivers who engage in this dangerous activity."

State Police have been using Concealed Identity Traffic Enforcement (CITE) vehicles as part of the operation in order to more easily identify motorists who are texting while driving. CITE vehicles are SUVs that have platforms higher than an average vehicle, allowing officers greater ability to see into other vehicles and detect individuals in the process of sending text messages. The State Police fleet of CITE vehicles are unmarked and come in a variety of colors to ensure that they blend in with traffic on the road. They are also equipped with hidden high intensity emergency lights.