Are New York Drivers Really Still Doing This in 2025?

A recent operation by the New York State Police was meant to make the roadways safer for highway workers... it also highlighted an activity that many thought had gone extinct.

The NYSP have several targeted missions, including Speed Week (targeting speeders) and Operation Hard Hat, which specifically focuses on safety in highway work zones. The latest results have been eye-catching.

Specific Safety Operations by New York State Police

7,000 tickets were issued this June during Speed Week across the Hudson Valley, and an impressive 79 tickets were recently issued in August in a single day (and in a single work zone) on the Taconic State Parkway for an Operation Hardhat mission. The latest operation, however, raised some eyebrows.

Operation Hard Hat Recently Conducted in Broome County, NY

"The New York State Police and Broome County Sheriff’s Department teamed up to combat dangerous behavior in work zones", the NYSP shared on Facebook. Out of the 109 tickets that were issued, almost a quarter of them were for one infraction in particular.

Why Are So Many New York Drivers Still Using Their Cellphones While Driving?

While 36 drivers were stopped for speeding (the NYSP shared that the highest speed recorded was 87mph in a 55mph zone), another 26 tickets were issued for operating a cellphone while driving.

Community Responds to Operation Hard Hat Results in Broome County, NY

"Love that they do this. Unbelievable that many idiots driving while on their phones", shared one New Yorker. "I’m so sick of watching people while driving on their cells and looking down instead of on the road", echoed another.

There has been such a strong media push about the dangers of using cellphones while driving that the fact that nearly a quarter of the recent tickets issued were for that exact infraction can be viewed as disheartening.

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Unfortunately, it seems like PSAs, targeted police operations, and other public safety missions are only chipping away at a problem that shows no sign of disappearing. Check out the New York roads that are dangerous even without added distractions below.