Who We Are

DRIVE SMART

Southcoast

Drive Without Distraction

Drive Smart SoCo is a coalition of area organizations, businesses, law enforcement and community stakeholders working to make our roads safer by promoting safe, undistracted driving.

What We Do

DriveSmartSoCo is in the business of making the Southcoast roadways safer. The work we do is aimed at providing a holistic approach to solving one of our society’s biggest challenges, distracted driving. The program takes three approaches to achieve that goal - Community Awareness - Education & Diversion - Enforcement.

DRIVE SMART Southcoast

AT A GLANCE

A Bit of Background

Drive Smart Southcoast, began in the spring of 2019 as a partnership with New Bedford Police and Southcoast Youth Courts the program was quickly adopted by Fairhaven, Dartmouth, and Acushnet Police Departments along with multiple community-minded businesses. The purpose of the program is to heighten awareness about the risks and provide ideas on how to avoid distracted driving..

At A Glance

COMMUNITY AWARENESS CAMPAIGN

Educating the community about the risks of distracted driving. Far too many young people are dying or getting injured from distracted driving. The Southcoast is coming together to change that in our community.

EDUCATION AND DIVERSION

Our partnership with business, law enforcement, and Youth Court is providing information and education about how to reduce distracted driving by providing workshops, guest speakers and community activities.

ENFORCEMENT

Local law enforcement are holding people accountable for putting the community at risk because of distracted driving.

Our Approaches

What You Should Know

The Law states that anyone under the age of 18 using a mobile phone or electronic device while driving or while stopped in traffic (example... at a red light) can be charged.

The following are the standard repercussions for each offense:

FIRST OFFENSE: $100 CMVI Fine (Civil Motor Vehicle Infraction), 60 Days RMV Suspension, Attitude Class that you will have to pay for.

SECOND OFFENSE: $250 CMVI Fine, a 180 days RMV Suspension.

THIRD OFFENSE: $500 CMVI Fine, a 1 Year RMV Suspension and a 6-year surcharge on insurance.

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