Shoreline Police Conducting Distracted Driving Patrols Today

SHORELINE, WA - You should always keep your eyes on the road and nothing else - but keep that in mind today especially.

Shoreline police will be conducting distracted driving emphasis patrols Monday, city officials say. That means they'll be looking out for people who are paying closer attention to their iPhone than the road.

In Washington, there are two laws regarding cell phone use in a car. The wireless device law prohibits drivers from holding a phone while driving, even while stopped at a light. There's a separate law for reading, writing, or sending a text message while driving.

Aside from avoiding a traffic ticket, avoiding your phone while driving can save lives. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, over 3,000 people died in 2014 alone in distracted driving accidents; another 431,000 were injured.

Although experts say that texting is the No. 1 most distracting thing you can do while driving, distracted driving offenses also include behavior like eating, reading (it happens), grooming, and watching videos.

Image via City of Shoreline