April is “Distracted Driving Awareness” month. Distracted driving is anything that takes your eyes or mind off the road or your hands off the steering wheel - especially texting and cell phone use, whether hands-free or handheld. According to the California Office of Traffic Safety, it has been estimated that, at any one time, up to 10% of drivers are using a mobile device. Did you know that in 2014, 61% of California drivers surveyed said they had been hit or nearly hit by a driver who was talking or texting on a cell phone? (California Traffic Safety Survey) To save lives and educate all Californians, especially young drivers, about the dangers of distracted driving, the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS), California Highway Patrol (CHP), Impact Teen Drivers, and more than 200 law enforcement agencies statewide are working together on increased education and enforcement efforts for National Distracted Driving Awareness Month in April and California Teen Safe Driving Week, the first week of April. According to the latest data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, nationwide in 2013, 3,154 people were killed and an estimated additional 424,000 were injured in motor vehicle crashes involving distracted drivers.
The Daly City Police Department is joining in this campaign to increase education and enforcement efforts. Please do your best to avoid distractions, which, in addition to cell phone use, includes eating/drinking while driving, programming a GPS, reading a map, trying to reach for something that fell on the floor or being too involved with your passengers.
Please do not text or use your phone while driving. One text or call could end it all.
