SANTA ANA, Ca. (April 6, 2021): The Orange County Sheriff’s Department encourages drivers to give the phone a break and focus on the road.
Throughout the month of April, the Sheriff’s Department will have additional deputies on patrol specifically looking for drivers who violate the state’s hands-free cell phone law.
“Anything that pulls a driver’s attention from the road, especially a phone, puts everyone at risk,” said Sheriff-Coroner Don Barnes. “We want you to be safe while driving, which means keeping your focus on the road.”
According to the 2020 California Statewide Public Opinion Survey, more than 75% of surveyed drivers listed “Distracted Driving because of TEXTING” as their biggest safety concern.
Under current law, drivers are not allowed to hold a phone or other electronic device while behind the wheel. Drivers under 18 are not allowed to use a phone for any reason, including hands-free.
If you need to make a call or send a text, pull over and park at a safe location. Drivers should silence their phones or put the phone out of reach, such as the glove box or trunk.
Funding for distracted driving enforcement operations are provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
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