SACRAMENTO – Driver distraction is a significant and growing problem in California, and the California Highway Patrol is joining with other law enforcement partners this month in an effort to save lives by encouraging drivers to keep their eyes on the road.

Inattention while behind the wheel proved to be especially deadly in 2009 as 116 people statewide lost their lives as the result of a collision in which at least one driver was distracted, the CHP reported. More than 17,000 others were injured under similar circumstances.

To address this growing concern, the CHP and more than 200 law enforcement agencies throughout the state are conducting a series of enforcement efforts during April, which is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month.

The crackdown began Monday with the first, two-day statewide enforcement effort.

“When you're behind the wheel of a vehicle, any distraction can be serious, even life-threatening,” said CHP Commissioner Joe Farrow. “Texting, especially, while driving, is not only illegal, it is just not a good idea.”

Farrow said most distracted driving crashes can be prevented if the drivers change their behavior and focus on driving.

Not only do drivers put themselves at risk while multitasking, drivers increase the risk of injuring or killing their passengers, bicyclists, pedestrians or innocent victims traveling in another vehicle, the CHP reported, adding that it is the responsibility of all drivers to keep the roads safe.

To help address the deadly problem, the CHP received a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

In addition, local police and sheriffs’ departments will be adding several “zero tolerance” enforcement days throughout the month.

“OTS is proud to both help provide the CHP with the additional resources they need to combat this problem and to sign up over 275 local law enforcement agencies to join in this kickoff campaign,” said OTS Director Christopher J. Murphy. “This is a problem that threatens to grow even larger and faster if California's drivers are not convinced that mobile device use is dangerous.”

While the number one source of driver inattention is the use of cell phones, distracted driving is more than just using technology when driving. It represents a range of activities that impact a driver’s visual, auditory, physical or cognitive abilities when driving.

Hoping to drive the message home and convince motorists to disconnect from this distracting, often deadly behavior while behind the wheel, the CHP will, in addition to the enforcement effort, launch a grant-funded public service campaign, conduct educational presentations and staff booths at community events at which educational materials can be distributed.

“Through the combined efforts of California’s law enforcement agencies, our traffic safety partners like OTS, the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) and the Department of Motor Vehicles our goal is to enlighten drivers statewide about the dangers of distracted driving,” said Farrow. “Too many lives are destroyed every year because of distracted driving; it’s not worth it.”

To view the distracted driving public service announcements, go to the CHP’s Web site: www.chp.ca.gov or www.chp.ca.gov/depts_divs_offs/omr_texting.html .

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