Police Focus on Preventing Distracted Driving
California law enforcement officials are cracking down on drivers who use cell phones behind the wheel

December 04, 2011 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Police Focus on Preventing Distracted Driving

The use of cell phones while driving is a known danger. Driving while using a cell phone makes the operator of a motor vehicle four times more likely to get into a crash involving an injury, statistics from the U.S. Department of Transportation show. In addition, 18 percent of fatalities in distraction-related crashes occur because of a cell phone, accounting for nearly 1,000 traffic deaths in 2009. Because of this, California law enforcement officials are cracking down on drivers who use cell phones behind the wheel.

In April, California observed Distracted Driving Awareness Month. During the first two weeks of that month, 20,455 tickets were issued throughout the state. These tickets cost either $159 or $270, depending on the events surrounding the citation. The Office of Traffic Safety stated that California Highway Patrol Officers issued tickets at twice the normal rate during this increased push toward catching distracted drivers.

Why the need for such a push? If the statistics cited above were not enough of a reason, more and more studies are showing the risk of cell phone use by drivers. For example, the University of Utah performed a study which found that using a cell phone while driving, even if it was hands-free, delayed drivers' reaction times by the same amount as having a blood alcohol concentration level right at the legal 0.08 percent limit.

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, nearly 5,500 people were killed in traffic accidents involving distracted driving during 2009 and over 448,000 were injured. The actual numbers, however, are likely higher, as it is difficult for law enforcement officers to determine whether someone was on the phone at the time of the accident and reporting methods lack consistency from state to state.

The Governor's Highway Safety Association notes that nine states currently ban handheld devices, though no state prohibits all cell phone use. For those who have been injured or lost a family member in a distracted driving accident, it is important to speak with an experienced attorney.

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