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Tag: distracted driving

  • Citrus Heights police join April crackdown on distracted driving

    Citrus Heights police join April crackdown on distracted driving

    Sentinel staff report–
    Additional officers will be on the streets handing out tickets and educating drivers during the month of April as part of a statewide campaign against distracted driving, the Citrus Heights Police Department said in a news release on Friday.

    The department said it issued 1,180 citations to drivers last year for texting, calling or otherwise using their phone — which averages to about three citations issued per day. Police said preliminary data shows 66 people were killed and over 6,500 were injured from distracted-driving related crashes in 2017.

    “Cell phones remain one of the top distractions for drivers,” Sgt. Shaun Gualco said in Friday’s news release. “Like any bad habit, it can be hard to break, but this habit can have life-altering consequences.”

    Police said a 2018 study by the California Office of Traffic Safety found about 4.5 percent of drivers use their phones while driving, an increase from 2016.

    “That text or phone call will never be worth losing a life over,” Gualco said. “That is why curbing distracted driving is high on our priority list.”

    Under current law, it is illegal to drive with a phone in hand for any reason. Police said dash or window-mounted phones “can only be touched once with the swipe or tap of a finger to activate or deactivate a function.”

    Police advise pulling over and parking at a safe location before making a phone call or texting. For those struggling with staying off their phones, police recommend putting phones in a location out of reach, like the backseat or a trunk.

    Police said first-time distracted driving offenders face a $162 fine.

  • Citrus Heights police focus on ending distracted driving

    Citrus Heights police focus on ending distracted driving

    Police car lights, light bar. Citrus Heights Sentinel. Photo by Luke Otterstad
    Police lights, stock photo. // Citrus Heights Sentinel

    Updated April 22, 8:17 p.m.–
    As part of a month-long nationwide campaign to reduce distracted driving, Citrus Heights police said they are participating in focused educational and enforcement activities throughout April — including several “zero tolerance” days.

    “The purpose of the campaign is to raise awareness about the dangers of distracted driving in an attempt to change behavior and save lives, not just in April but also year-round,” police said earlier this month in a written press statement authored by Traffic Sgt. Bryan Fritch.

    The statement broadly defined distracted driving as “any activity that could divert a person’s attention away from the primary task of driving.” Specified driving distractions listed by police include texting, using a cellphone, eating and drinking, talking to passengers, grooming, reading, using a navigation system or map, watching a video, or adjusting a radio or MP3 player.

    Police said distracted driving is an ongoing problem, citing the rise in smartphone use as a contributing factor. Text messaging was also highlighted by police as “by far the most alarming distraction,” due to the amount of attention required by the driver. The current cost of a texting-and-driving ticket in Sacramento County is believed to be $162, according to Attorney Ed Smith, who operates the website www.AutoAccident.com.

    “Zero tolerance” days were announced for April 7 and April 20, where police said officers would be “especially vigilant” in their goal to reduce distracted driving.

    2014 statistics cited by police from the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) show 18 percent of people injured in motor vehicle collisions involved distracted drivers. The statistics also show 3,179 people lost their lives in 2014 in distracted driving collisions nationwide, although police believe that total is likely higher due to such crashes often being difficult to prove.

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    Police said the purpose of the campaign “is not to write as many citations as possible,” but also stated “sometimes citations are necessary for distracted drivers to understand the importance of focusing on their driving.” According to www.distraction.gov, more than 660,000 drivers use hand-held cellphones on the road “at any given daylight moment” across the United States.

    As part of April’s “National Distracted Driving Awareness Month,” the NHTSA is also conducting a television campaign with the message “U Drive. U Text. U Pay.” California’s Office of Traffic Safety is also participating with public service announcements and a “Silence the Distraction” social media campaign.

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