INGLEWOOD'S OWN
Inglewood PD warns motorists to give cell phone a ‘break’
April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month; drivers urged to focus on the road
INGLEWOOD (MNS) — April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month, and the Inglewood Police Department encourages drivers to give the phone a break and focus on the road.
On April 9, 15, 23 and 29, the Inglewood Police Department will deploy additional officers to street patrol, specifically searching for drivers that violate the state’s hands-free cell phone law.
“When you are driving, give the phone a rest,” Chief Mark Fronterotta said. “A driver’s number one focus should be on the road. Anything that distracts you from the task of driving, especially a phone, puts yourself and others at risk.”
According to the 2020 California Statewide Public Opinion Survey, more than 75 percent of surveyed drivers listed “Distracted Driving due to texting as their biggest safety concern.
“Not driving distracted is a simple, but significant behavior change,” Fronterotta said. “The goal is to increase compliance with the hands-free cell phone law and keep people safe.”
Under current law, drivers are not allowed to hold a phone or other electronic device while behind the wheel, and drivers under 18 are not allowed to use a phone for any reason, including hands-free.
Fronterotta urges motorists needing to make a call or send a text, to pull over and park at a safe location. He says drivers should silence their phones or put the phone out of reach, such as the glove box or trunk.
Metropolis News Service.