April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month

April 9, 2019
SUBMITTED BY LISA PETERSON

California drivers encouraged to "silence" the distraction during Distracted Driving Awareness Month

Graphic from JustDrive campaign

Source: California Office of Traffic Safety

April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month and the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) and the California Highway Patrol (CHP) will join other traffic safety partners to remind drivers throughout the month of the dangers of distracted driving and the need to travel with their full focus on the road.  

According to the National Highway Traffic Administration (NHTSA), distracted driving claimed 3,166 lives in 2017 in the United States. In California, preliminary data from the CHP shows that 66 people were killed and more than 6,500 injured in 2017 from distracted driving related crashes. To address this, the CHP will be conducting a statewide, zero-tolerance enforcement effort to discourage distracted driving.

What is distracted driving?

Driving distracted can be caused by any activity that takes your attention and focus away from driving safely. That includes taking a call or sending a text on your cell phone, engaging with your radio, entertainment, or navigation systems, or eating and drinking.

One of the most dangerous activities is texting while driving. It is also illegal in California. Passed in 2017, the hands-free cell phone law prohibits drivers from holding a wireless telephone or electronic wireless communications device while driving a motor vehicle.

#JustDrive

We can all be a part of the solution in stopping distracted driving. The following is a selection of links to safety information, research, and resources that can be used to help educate and raise awareness about this important traffic safety issue:

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