South OC Times

Mission Viejo, Ca. (April 21, 2024): Distracted driving is a dangerous and illegal behavior the Sheriff’s Department is working to deter drivers from doing. On Tuesday, April 23, deputies will focus their efforts on drivers that are talking, texting, using an app or any other action on their phone that is not hands-free and violates California’s cell phone law. A violation is subject to a $162 fine for the first offense, and at least $285 for a second offense.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), "Distracted driving comes in many forms, but cell phones remain the top distraction." In a 2018 observational survey by Fresno State and the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS), nearly 5 percent of California drivers were using their phone illegally behind the wheel, either by talking on or using their phone without a hands-free device.

"In this day and age, it is natural instinct to answer the phone or read a text, but the focus for drivers should be on the road," emphasized an unnamed spokesperson from the Sheriff’s Department. Other distractions while driving include eating, grooming, talking to passengers, using GPS, adjusting the radio, taking off a jacket, or reaching for an object on the floor.

"If you have an important phone call or need to reprogram your navigation system, pull over to a safe parking place," advised the Sheriff’s Department representative. To resist the urge of using your phone, either silence it or put it somewhere you can’t reach.

The enforcement operation to curb distracted driving is funded by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, as stated by a spokesperson from the Sheriff’s Department.