Sheriff's Deputies are always on the look out for distracted drivers. Even if your eyes are off the road for a second or two, that distraction could cause a serious injury or deadly crash.
April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month. Watch this video from KUSI News' Good Morning San Diego to hear Sheriff's Lieutenant Herbert Taft explain why distracted driving is so dangerous.
If you are caught violating California's cell phone laws, you will be cited and face a minimum fine of $161 with subsequent violations being higher.
According to the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS), there were more than 426,000 handheld cell phone and texting convictions in the state in 2013. More than 57,000 tickets were issued in April alone.
"We take the issue of distracted driving very seriously," said Sheriff Bill Gore. "Not only is texting and driving dangerous, it's against the law and 100 percent preventable. DISTRACTED DRIVING: IT'S NOT WORTH IT!"
New teenage drivers can learn all about responsible driving by taking a "Start Smart" class. The two-hour class teaches teens all about driver safety, including not texting and driving.
To learn more about the "Start Smart" program, go to: sdsheriff.net/startsmart.
