SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Every
year, thousands of people are seriously injured or killed statewide in vehicle
crashes caused by distracted drivers – crashes that are 100% preventable. To address the problem, the California Highway
Patrol (CHP) is launching a statewide “Distracted Driving Education and
Enforcement for Adult Drivers” traffic safety campaign, boosted by a $350,000
federal grant.
The yearlong education and
enforcement initiative continues through Sept. 30, 2024. Throughout the year, the CHP will conduct at
least 90 enforcement operations targeting adult distracted drivers. In parallel with a CHP program targeted at
teen drivers, the adult distracted driving campaign also includes 300 adult
traffic safety presentations statewide.
“The CHP encourages
drivers to make the conscious decision to drive distraction free every time
they get behind the wheel of a vehicle,” CHP Commissioner Sean Duryee
said. “Every distraction, even for just a few seconds, increases your
chances of being involved in a crash. Ultimately, it is never worth the
potentially devastating consequences.”
With multiple modes of
communication and instant entertainment, cell phone use is the biggest driver
distraction. Between 2019 and 2021,
there were a total of 6,343 fatal and injury crashes within CHP jurisdiction stemming
from distracted driving. During those same years, CHP officers issued
more than 200,000 citations to drivers violating California’s handsfree law.
Some of the most common
types of adult distracted driving includes texting, talking on a cell phone,
eating, grooming, operating a navigation system, and adjusting the radio.
Public education and
increased enforcement are designed to encourage drivers to recognize the
dangers of distracted driving and reduce the number of people impacted by this
reckless, preventable behavior.
Funding
for this program is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic
Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
The mission of the CHP is to provide the highest level of
Safety, Service, and Security.
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