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Hayward Observes The “Just Drive” Driver Safety Campaign

April is Distracted Driver Awareness month. 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 road. Not only is holding your phone while driving illegal in the state of California, but distracted driving is now the No. 1 cause of roadway crashes.

Published

1 year ago

June 7, 2024

Oakland Post

iStock image by Neelrong28.

By Mike Matthews

Hayward Police Department

April is Distracted Driver Awareness month.

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 road.

Not only is holding your phone while driving illegal in the state of California, but distracted driving is now the No. 1 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.