WESTPORT–Pay attention to the drivers around you on the roads over the holidays, because they may not be paying attention to you.

Since Dec. 10, Westport police have cited 11 motorists for distracted driving – texting, talking on a handheld phone or performing some other function while behind the wheel. Lieutenant Anthony Prezioso, the department spokesman, said it was not clear whether people talk and text while driving more around the holidays than other times of the year, but police are on the lookout.

“With the noticeable increase in traffic through town, our enforcement efforts do tend to target these violations even more so during this time of year in the interest of promoting pedestrian and vehicular safety, especially in our downtown area where (traffic from) both can be extremely heavy,” he said.

Lauren Fabrizi, a spokeswoman for AAA Northeast, said it’s an especially important time of year to be diligent about the rules of the road.

“With a record number of travelers expected to head to their holiday destinations, it’s important that drivers use extra caution and obey all traffic laws,” she said. “Year-round, but especially over the next few weeks with an increase of traffic on the roads, we urge drivers to buckle up, obey the speed limit, ditch the distractions, slow down and move over for emergency personnel and all disabled vehicles on the side of the road, and never get behind the wheel impaired.”

AAA estimates that more than 122 million Americans are traveling at least 50 miles from home from Dec. 20 to Jan 1, 2026. The vast majority, nearly 110 million, are expected to travel by car, Fabrizi said.

Drivers who are distracted, whether by using electronic devices, eating, putting on makeup or paying attention to passengers or external factors, are dangerous and can even be deadly. Fabrizi noted that 3,275 people were killed in distracted driver accidents in 2023, the most recent year for which numbers are available, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. That was down slightly from 3,308 deaths the year before, but the number of people injured increased substantially. In 2023, distracted driver crashes injured 324,819 people across the country, up from 289,310 the year before, the numbers show.

Prezioso said the problem has been exacerbated in recent years by the wider range of uses for smartphones and other devices. What once was mainly an issue with people talking on the phone now includes texting, internet searches, programming GPS devices and other applications, he said.

The law prohibits the “use of hand-held mobile telephones and mobile electronic devices by motor vehicle operators and school bus drivers.” The infraction comes with a fine of $200 for a first violation, $375 for second violation and $625 for each violation beyond that.

Looking at distracted driving accident numbers in Connecticut for 2024, Fabrizi said the worst months were the warmer ones, from May to October. They ranged from 434 accidents in August to 528 in October. She added, however, that “December wasn’t far behind” with 427.

“Road safety is a shared responsibility,” she said. “We ask everyone to do their part to ensure a safe and happy holiday season.”