The New York City Police Department today announced the results of a safety initiative conducted citywide last week which focused on addressing cell phone use while driving and failing to yield to pedestrians. Officers issued a total of 5,258 summonses during the initiative. The initiative is a part of the NYPD’s effort to reduce traffic collisions and conditions that cause death and injury to pedestrians.

The initiative was conducted on two separate days: Tuesday, May 13th, 2014 and Friday, May 16th, for the entire 24 hour period of each day.

Summonses issued included the failure to yield to pedestrians, use of a cell phone while operating a motor vehicle and texting while operating a motor vehicle.

The following is the number of summonses issued for each infraction:

Use of a cell phone while driving – 2,938
Texting while driving – 1,066
Failure to yield right of way to pedestrians – 1,254

Year to date pedestrian deaths have decreased 30.16%. The goal of Vision Zero is to bring the number of pedestrian deaths to zero.

Pedestrians and drivers are reminded to avoid distraction while operating motor vehicles and walking City streets.

(YWN Desk – NYC)