Released by CHP
April is "National Driving Awareness Month" and the California Highway Patrol is teaming up with the to present a Distracted Dirving Safety Seminar April 17 from 6 to 7 p.m.
This workshop will feature a short presentation exploring the hazards, perils, and laws surrounding distracted driving, and will be followed with an open floor question and answer session with a local CHP officer.
The National Safety Council (NSC) estimates that at least 28 percent or 1.6 million collisions are caused each year by drivers using cell phones and text messaging. The NSC estimates that 1.4 million collisions each year are caused by drivers using cell phones and a minimum of 200,000 additional collisions each year are caused by drivers who are text messaging.
In 2011, CHP officers issued more than 168,000 citations statewide to motorists who were in violation of the hands-free law. This number includes handheld cellular phone usage and text messaging. Drivers under the age of 18 cannot use any type of cell phone while operating a vehicle. Drivers 18 years and olderSHALL use a hand free device.
A report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has indicated that cell phones are the most familiar form of distraction. Using a Global Positioning Satellite (GPS), eating, drinking, changing CD’s, and adjusting your vehicles temperature, although legal, are also distractions. Also legal, yet potentially lethal are: applying make-up, adjusting the radio and reading a roadmap. These things are among the list of numerous activities that can distract a driver from the responsibilities of safely operating a motor vehicle.
The library, where the event will be held, is located at 3600 Norbridge, Castro Valley.
For more information, call (510) 667-7900.
For more information on “Distracted Driving” please visit www.nhtsa.gov or contact the Castro Valley CHP at (510) 581-9028.
