As part of April’s Distracted Driving Awareness Month campaign, deputies from the Palmdale Sheriff’s Station will be joining with over 200 other local law enforcement agencies and the California Highway Patrol in a month long “zero tolerance” enforcement and education campaign to curb those texting or operating hand-held cell phones while driving. Officers will be on alert throughout the month for those who break the cell phone laws and place themselves and others in danger.
“We take the issue of distracted driving very seriously,” said Sergeant Mark Johnston, Palmdale’s Traffic Sergeant. “It is because we see the aftermath of these totally preventable crashes. For the average person, driving is by far the most dangerous thing one does daily, yet many drivers do not give that danger any real serious thought”. Is that text message or cell phone call really worth $161, or worse, someone’s life?
Drivers who use hand-held devices are four times as likely to get into crashes serious enough to injure themselves. In addition, studies show that texting while driving can delay a driver’s reaction time just as severely as having a blood alcohol content of a legally drunk driver. According to research, sending or receiving a text takes a driver's eyes from the road for an average of 4.6 seconds. Even a three second glance at freeway speeds means a driver has traveled the distance of a football field.
In addition to cell phone use, deputies will be looking for other types of distractions which would include eating, reading books, putting on make-up, allowing pets to sit on the driver’s lap as well as many other distracting actions by drivers.
LA Crime Stoppers: Partner to prevent or report crime by contacting your local Sheriff’s station. Or if you wish to remain Anonymous, call “LA Crime Stoppers” by dialing 800-222-TIPS (8477), texting the letters TIPLA plus your tip to CRIMES (274637), or using the website http://lacrimestoppers.org
Prepared by:
Deputy Jodi Wolfe
Palmdale Sheriff’s Station
750 East Avenue Q,
Palmdale, Ca. 93550
(661) 272-2520
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.Palmdale.lasd.org
Twitter: @jwLASD
Facebook.com/Deputy Wolfe
