Full Notification

Distracted driving can have deadly consequences. In the average time it takes to check a text message – less than 5 seconds – a car travelling 60 mph will travel more than the length of a football field. With an average of less than one second to react to an urgent situation, drivers need to have all their attention on the roadway. No text, call, or social media update is worth risking a crash.

We urge all drivers to silence their cell phones and devote their attention to the road. If you have teen drivers in your household, remind them of the dangers of distracted driving and share with them the safety tips outlined below to eliminate distractions while driving:

• Never text and drive
• Turn off your phone when you get behind the wheel
• Don’t text or call someone when you know they are likely to be driving
• No eating or drinking while driving
• Don’t program your GPS or other devices while driving
• Pull over and stop to read maps
• No grooming, reading or watching videos while behind the wheel
• Try not to get too involved with passengers
• If something falls to the floor, pull over before trying to reach it

It’s been 10 years since “hands-free” became the law, but distracted driving remains a serious safety challenge in California. Traffic officers have issued hundreds of thousands of citations over the past three years to drivers for texting or calling on a hand-held cell phone. Recent legislation now makes it illegal to use your smartphone apps will driving. Still, we’ve all seen other drivers on a device driving in a dangerous manner next to us on the road.

The Los Altos Police Department is committed to seeing a decrease in the number of traffic collisions that are caused by distracted driving. This can only be accomplished through the diligence and cooperation of the public – so please, drive safe and focus on the road.