Full Notification

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has identified distracted driving as any action that diverts a driver’s attention away from the primary task of driving. While cell phone use is the most obvious form of distracted driving, activities such as eating, drinking, grooming, and using a vehicle’s navigation or radio system also constitute distracted driving behaviors. Each of these distractions can have devastating and potentially deadly consequences. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that each day in the United States, more than 9 people are killed and more than 1,153 people are injured in crashes involving incidents of distracted driving. Like any area with a high density of drivers, the Coachella Valley is no stranger to incidents of distracted driving. The proliferation of electronic devices and a busy lifestyle are just a few examples of why distracted driving is on the rise. To address the dangers of distracted driving, your Coachella Valley law enforcement partners (California Highway Patrol, Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, Palm Springs Police Department, Cathedral City Police Department, Rancho Mirage Police Department, Palm Desert Police Department, La Quinta Police Department, Indio Police Department, and Coachella Police Department) partnered with KMIR Television, Lamar Advertising, RR Broadcasting (MIX 100.5/KDES), and the Desert Sun to develop the “Put it Away” campaign. “Put it Away” is a public service campaign that brings attention to distracted driving through television, radio, print, and billboard media, with the hopes that we can reduce incidents of distracted driving in the Coachella Valley. Additionally, Coachella law enforcement agencies will be on the lookout for distracted drivers and may issue citations accordingly.