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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Getting There: Half of drivers OK with using cellphones

Nearly half of drivers in Washington and Oregon think it’s OK to use cellphones behind the wheel.

A recent survey conducted for PEMCO Insurance showed that 46 percent of drivers in the two states admitted to using their cellphone for talking or texting while driving at times, even though they know it’s against the law.

Many of those drivers said they do it at times when they think it is safe. Others said they do it because they believe they won’t get caught.

“We all spot fellow drivers sneaking glances at their phones, probably even more frequently than drivers would like to admit,” PEMCO spokesman Derek Wing said in a news release. “But our latest poll reveals a more troubling trend that these drivers aren’t taking the risks of distracted driving seriously.

“Even if it doesn’t seem dangerous in the moment, the reality is there is never a safe time to take your attention away from the road or your surroundings – the consequences aren’t worth it.”

The poll showed that some of the worst offenders are setting a bad example for their children under age 18.

The PEMCO poll found that two-thirds of parents with children at home admit to knowingly using their phone illegally while driving on at least a few trips.

By contrast, 38 percent of drivers without children admit to using their phone illegally on some trips.

Half of teens believe that their parents’ illegal cellphone use is a dangerous activity.

Lanes to close for new I-90 off-ramp

Construction of a new westbound off-ramp on Interstate 90 at Freya Street will cause lane restrictions Monday night.

One westbound lane will close at 7 p.m., while a second lane will close from 11 p.m. until 3 a.m.

The new off-ramp will be farther east of Freya and route off-ramp traffic onto Second Avenue.

The project will create more room for vehicles at the traffic light at Freya and improve the efficiency of the traffic light at Freya by eliminating one of the three existing light phases there.

Off-ramp near Liberty Lake to close

Elsewhere on I-90, maintenance crews will close lanes in work areas from the Sunset Hill to Argonne Road this week.

On Wednesday, the westbound off-ramp at Appleway near Liberty Lake will be closed for repair work.

Construction closes Hawthorne Road

In Spokane County, Hawthorne Road is closed between Division and Waikiki Road for construction.

Spokane speed restrictions in effect

In Spokane, summer speed restrictions of 20 mph are now in effect at Cannon Park, Chief Garry Park, Lincoln Park, Mission Park and pool, and Shadle Park and pool.

Starting Monday, Freya Street will be closed from 37th Avenue to Palouse Highway for expansion of the Hazel’s Creek stormwater retention facility along 37th Avenue. The closure will last through the early part of July. The work will also force closure of 37th Avenue east of Freya.

Lincoln Street from Fourth to Eighth avenues will close starting Monday for the second phase of improvements to the Lincoln and Monroe Street corridor on the lower South Hill. Local access will be maintained throughout the corridor, including access to businesses south of Eighth.

Concrete paving on Monroe is expected to last until the end of the month.

Traffic restrictions will continue on Monroe from Main to Second avenues in a separate project.

Also, work is underway to improve the intersection of Main and Division Street.

Streets to close for Summer Parkways

The Summer Parkways event from 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesday will close streets for nonmotorized use in the vicinity of Comstock and Manito parks.

Activities and booths will be set up in the parks while pedestrians and bike riders will move freely in the area without having to deal with normal vehicle traffic.

The closures will allow local access for vehicles.