April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month and a time to put safety in the driver’s seat. The Campbell Police Department will be actively looking for drivers throughout the month who are in violation of the state’s hands-free cell phone law.
"Distracted Driving Awareness Month serves as a vital reminder that even a split-second distraction can have grave consequences,” Chief of Police Gary Berg said. “Take steps to eliminate distraction before starting your vehicle such as silencing notifications or stowing your phone out of immediate reach. By prioritizing road safety over cell phones, we can keep everyone safer.”
According to the 2023 California Statewide Public Opinion Survey, more than 74% of drivers surveyed said that distracted driving because of texting was their biggest safety concern. In 2021, there were at least 140 people killed in distracted driving traffic crashes in California. The numbers are likely underreported because law enforcement officers may not always be able to tell that distraction was a factor in a crash.
Under current law, drivers are not allowed to hold a phone or electronic communications device while operating a vehicle, even when stopped at a red light. This includes talking, texting, or using an app. Using a handheld cell phone while driving is punishable by a fine and violating the hands-free law for a second time within 36 months of a prior conviction for the same offense will result in a point being added to a driver’s record.
If you have an important phone call, text, or email, or are in a situation with other distractions, such as looking up directions, pull over to a safe parking spot to complete the task without putting yourself and others at risk. Other distractions can be eating, grooming, reaching for something that fell on the floor, putting on or taking off clothing, talking with passengers, or children in the back seat.
