The Manteca Police Department marks April as Distracted Driving Awareness Month, a timely call to drivers for undivided attention on the roads. In a recent Facebook post, the department laid it bare: "Eyes Forward. Hands on the Wheel. Lives Depend on It," highlighting the crucial need for motorists to keep their gaze fixed ahead and hands firmly on the wheel, eschewing distractions—be it a text buzz or a bite of a burrito—that can bring tragic outcomes, and they are stepping up enforcement to drive the point home, as per Manteca Police Department.
The Manteca Police Department Facebook post will be actively looking for drivers who are defying the state's hands-free cell phone law throughout April, drivers are not allowed to hold a phone or electronic communications device while operating a vehicle, this includes when stopped at a red light, the law that forbids talking texting, or app use while driving comes with a fine and if you're caught breaking the hands-free law twice within 36 months, you'll have a point added to your driving record, traffic officers are not playing around this April during this critical campaign.
Officer Jose Plascencia from Manteca Police Traffic had it nailed down when he said in a statement, "Staying focused behind the wheel is something we can all do," and to take these words lightly would be a mistake, especially considering a startling fact from the 2024 California Statewide Public Opinion Survey where nearly 74% of drivers conveyed that distracted driving, namely fexting, was at the top of their safety concerns; moreover, the 148 deaths linked to distracted driving crashes in California for 2022 might just be the tip of the iceberg given that officers can't always pinpoint distraction as a crash's cause—what we don't know here truly hurts us.
To reduce risks, the Manteca Police Department recommends putting away your phone while driving, setting your car's functions before you start, and setting a good example for new drivers by staying focused. They also encourage passengers to remind drivers to stay alert. If you need to take care of something urgent, find a safe spot to pull over.
