April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month and a time to put safety in the driver’s seat. The Concord Police Department will be actively looking for drivers throughout the month who are in violation of the state’s hands-free cell phone law.
“In today’s fast-paced life, it is common to lose focus while driving,” Lt. Renee Williams
said said. “Distracted Driving Awareness Month is a crucial reminder that even a moment of inattention or a quick glance at the phone can lead to serious consequences. Let’s get off our apps and keep our eyes on the road. Before starting the car, silence your phone or put it in the glove box, trunk or back seat. Anywhere
you can’t reach.”
According to the 2023 California Statewide Public Opinion Survey, more than 74% of
drivers surveyed said that distracted driving because of texting was their biggest safety
concern. In 2021, there were at least 140 people killed in distracted driving traffic
crashes in California. The numbers are likely underreported because law enforcement
officers may not always be able to tell that distraction was a factor in a crash.
Under current law, drivers are not allowed to hold a phone or electronic communications device while operating a vehicle, even when stopped at a red light.
This includes talking, texting or using an app. Using a handheld cell phone while driving
is punishable by a fine and violating the hands-free law for a second time within 36
months of a prior conviction for the same offense will result in a point being added to
a driver’s record.
If you have an important phone call, text or email, or are in a situation with other
distractions, such as looking up directions, pull over to a safe parking spot to complete
the task without putting yourself and others at risk. Other distractions can be eating,
grooming, reaching for something that fell on the floor, putting on or taking off clothing, talking with passengers, or children in the back seat.
April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month. I just can’t keep up, we need more than 12 months in a year. Why can’t this be year long?
How long does it take to answer or place a call or reach for the water bottle that fell.
Five seconds perhaps and how many feet will vehicle travel in that time ? ? ?
25 miles per hour = 36.7 feet per second x 5 = 183.5 feet
35 miles per hour = 51.3 feet per second x 5 = 256.5 feet
45 miles per hour = 66.0 feet per second x 5 = 330.0 feet
55 miles per hour = 80.7 feet per second x 5 = 403.5 feet
65 miles per hour = 95.3 feet per second x 5 = 476.5 feet
.
Take time to perceive a danger (reaction time) and time for vehicle to decelerate.
Add number of feet from above to chart on page three of this website,
https://nacto.org/docs/usdg/vehicle_stopping_distance_and_time_upenn.pdf
.
At 35 mph total 256.5 + 136 comes to 392.5 feet
.
Hang up and drive.
.
My alarm system at home alerts me thru the phone…. what’s the point of having an alarm that you don’t monitor?
The memo should be in Spanish, and I’m not profiling, (or, maybe I am) but from my observation, there seems to be an inundation of Hispanics on the road and quite a few of them are looking down at their phones.
Well, you see the phones are the drivers. And the people are merely site seers.
Anyone else find a hilarious paradox between the cracking down on cell phone usage while driving and the development of bigger (and more involved) screens in new cars?
Probably an example of it happened to me today from a speeder. from what I believe was a 4 x 4 truck white with camper as that caught my eye. In a flash of a second felt I was going down. Had just passed N. Bruns Rd in Byron and BAM @ 10:20 am, then he must have corrected back, otherwise I would have probably as well as “them” been in the field. I had both hands on the wheel not hugging the line. You have to slow down there anyway in that weaving area of the track. No place to safely stop, a bit in shock I must have been didn’t call, just thought to get to my destination safely. Hit & Run. Wish I’d had the forethought to call it in for CHP. Allstate came thru and tomorrow I go get the repairs. When I got safely to my destination, the white paint scratches were on my left front bumper, window scratched good, but I’m safe.
You’re lucky to be alive. Today.