Despite the statewide ban on talking or texting while driving, Californians continue to use their cellular phones when they’re behind the wheel.
  
6:09pm | April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month, and Long Beach police are launching a citywide crackdown on drivers who use hand-held cell phones to talk or text while they’re behind the wheel.

The targeted zero-tolerance effort begins Monday and is set to continue for the next 27 days through April 30. And its not just the Long Beach Police Department that’s zeroing in on this widespread traffic violation; law enforcement agencies throughout California are also embarking on similar crackdowns as the state for the first time recognizes Distracted Driving Awareness Month.

Statewide, some 225 local agencies and 103 California Highway Patrol area commands will adopt zero-tolerance enforcements.

A traffic citation for either talking on one’s cell phone while driving or texting while driving carries a minimum penalty of $159 for the first offense, and subsequent offenders face fines of $279, according to information provided by the LBPD.

Distracted driving is a serious traffic safety concern that puts everyone on the road at risk, joining speeding and alcohol as leading factors in fatal and serious injury crashes, according to the LBPD.

“Distracted driving can have significant repercussions,” said LBPD Chief Jim McDonnell in a prepared statement. “People must understand that the consequences of distracted driving can be serious or even
sometimes fatal.”

According to statistics provided by police, drivers who use hand-held devices are four times more likely to get into crashes serious enough to injure themselves, with teenage drivers having the highest rate of distraction-related fatal crashes. 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.

“We recognize that convincing drivers to refrain from using cell phones or texting while driving isn’t easy,” said Christopher J. Murphy, director of the state Office of Traffic Safety, in a prepared statement. “It’s very difficult to resist the urge to check an incoming text or answer a cell phone call. That’s why we are stepping up enforcement and public awareness efforts.
“Convincing California drivers to wear seat belts 20 years ago wasn’t easy either, but in 2010 more than 96
percent buckled up and thousands of lives were saved,” Murphy added.

According to the LBPD, studies show that there is no difference in the risks between hands-free and hand-held cell phone conversations, both of which can result in “inattention blindness,” which occurs when the brain isn’t seeing what is clearly visible because the driver’s focus is on the phone conversation and not on the road.

There are simple measures drivers can take to minimize distractions in the vehicle:

  • Turn your phone off or put it out of reach before starting the car. 
  • Alert callers that you are unable to take calls when driving by changing your voicemail message.
  • Make it a point not to call or text anyone who may be driving, such as during the commute to and from work or school, especially parents calling teen drivers.
  • If you do need to make an important call or respond to a text message, pull over to a safe place to do so.
  • If going cold turkey is too much of a stretch and you just can’t turn your phone off, consider using one of the available mobile phone apps that holds calls and incoming texts.

“We just want drivers to use some common sense when they’re behind the wheel and focus on driving,” 
Murphy continued. “Think about the vast majority of calls and texts you send or receive everyday. Were any really worth a $159 ticket — or worse, a crash, injury or death? 

 “It’s just not worth it.”