Eyes on the road: The importance of being aware

MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII - According to Base Order 5560, the order regarding base motor vehicle and traffic regulations, driving a motor vehicle while talking on a cellphone or texting without a hands-free device is prohibited, however, it’s important for service members, families and workers aboard the base to know that “distracted driving” refers to a much broader spectrum of instances that may cause accidents. “People believe that as long as they aren’t actually texting or talking on the phone, they are fine,” said Lt. Col. Brian Cohn, the current operations officer for the Operations and Training directorate, and a resident of Kailua, Hawaii. “It could be anything, like changing music or checking Facebook; if you are driving and pick up your phone to press buttons or look at it, it constitutes as using the device, and if the officers see you doing that, they will pull you over and give you a citation.”(U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Harley Thomas)