As April marks Distracted Driving Awareness Month, the Scotts Valley Police Department (SVPD) is emphasizing the crucial need for drivers to remain focused and vigilant on the road.
With a marked increase in incidents related to distracted driving, the SVPD is urging motorists to keep their eyes ahead and hands firmly on the wheel. Common distractions such as texting, eating or fiddling with the radio can have severe and often tragic outcomes.
According to the 2024 California Statewide Public Opinion Survey, approximately 74% of surveyed drivers identified texting while driving as their top safety concern. Alarmingly, distracted driving claimed the lives of 148 individuals in California in 2022, and many incidents remain underreported due to challenges in establishing distraction as a crash factor.
Throughout April, the SVPD will be actively monitoring compliance with the state’s hands-free cell phone law, which prohibits drivers from holding their phones while behind the wheel, even at stoplights. Violations carry fines and repeat offenders may incur points on their driving records.
To promote safe driving habits, the SVPD recommends the following: Store your phone out of reach and silence notifications; set your GPS and adjust mirrors before driving; keep both hands on the wheel and avoid multitasking; model good behavior for passengers, especially young drivers; if you’re a passenger, gently remind the driver to stay focused; and pull over safely if urgent matters arise.
Funding for this enforcement initiative is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, in collaboration with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
