News Release, Police Department

Distracted Driver Awareness Month: The “Just Drive” driver safety campaign

April 5, 2024

 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 5, 2024 

 

Sgt. Mike Matthews, mike.matthews@hayward-ca.gov, (510) 293-3329 

 

Distracted Driver Awareness Month: 

The “Just Drive” driver safety campaign. 

 

April is Distracted Driver Awareness month. 

 

Hayward, Calif. – It’s easy to feel like driving isn’t enough when there’s so much more to do. Your mind is telling you to check your e-mail, text a loved one that you are on your way home, see how many “likes” you got on your last post. It’s normal to feel that urge to grab the phone but we must stay focused on the roadNot only is holding your phone while driving illegal in the state of California, distracted driving is now the number one cause of roadway crashes. Join us in being part of the solution. Resist the urge by silencing your phone, mounting it if you need a map, and getting your play list ready ahead of time. Grab the wheel with both hands, enjoy the drive and focus on each other. 

The Hayward Police Department will be conducting Distracted Driver enforcement throughout the month of April, and we want to remind drivers of a few facts regarding the State of California’s “Hands Free” driving laws. 

 

  • California’s “hands-free” laws prohibit drivers from holding a phone or other electronic device while driving. 

  • Starting back in July of 2021, violations that occur within 36 months of a prior conviction for the same electronic device violation are subject to a point against a driver’s record. 

  • Drivers under the age of 18 may not use any mobile communications device at all, whether hands-free or hand-held. 

 

Take the free Office of Traffic Safety’s Distracted Driving Quiz at: www.ots.ca.gov  under the 

“Go Safely” tab. 

 

Funding for this program is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 

 

Download the full press release.