RivCo Deputies On 'Distracted Driver' Patrol In April: What To Know

EASTVALE, CA — April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month and a time to put safety in the driver’s seat.

The Riverside County Sheriff’s Office, all stations, will actively look for drivers who violate the state’s hands-free cell phone law throughout the month. Expect officers to be on the lookout from the Temecula Southwest Station, the San Jacinto, Perris, Palm Desert, Moreno Valley, Lake Mathews, Lake Elsinore, Jurupa Valley, Hemet, and Cabazon stations. Officers from the Thermal Station and Colorado River Station will also be on the lookout to educate about distracted driving awareness and cite those who break the rules

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 distracted by other tasks, such as looking up directions, pull over to a safe parking spot to complete the task without putting yourself and others at risk, Parham suggests.

Other distractions can include eating, grooming, reaching for something that fell on the floor, putting on or taking off clothing, and talking with passengers or children in the back seat.

Eastvale Deputy Brian Parham discussed the need for distracted driving awareness.

“In today’s fast-paced life, it is common to lose focus while driving,” Parham 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.

Funding for distracted driving enforcement is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.