CHENANGO COUNTY – As April is ‘Distracted Driving Awareness Month,’ multiple law enforcement agencies throughout the county are participating by increasing patrols.

Participating agencies include the New York State Police, Norwich Police Department, and Chenango County Sheriff’s Office.

There is a national campaign, ‘U Drive. U Text. U Pay,” that awards participating states grant funding from the US Department of Transportation to support the efforts to fight distracted driving.

According to Norwich City Police Chief Joseph Angelino, distracted driving is something the NPD focuses on regularly, not just throughout the month of April.

Motorists are reminded that April 10-15, 2014, law enforcement personnel will be using both traditional and innovative strategies to crack down on those texting while driving.

City Police said its agency recognizes the entire month as ‘Distracted Driving Awareness Month.’

New York State Police have coined the next five day span of increased attention to distracted driving ‘Operation Hang Up.’