Support for LAist comes from
Become a sponsor
Made of L.A.
Donate
Stay Connected

LAist is part of Southern California Public Radio, a member-supported public media network. For the latest national news from NPR and our live radio broadcast, visit LAist.com/radio

Keep up with our local independent news

The Top 5 newsletter catches you up with LA’s top 5 stories in just 3 minutes.
Donate

Share This

This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.

This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.

News

Police Begin 2-Day Zero-Tolerance Distracted Driving Campaign

By  Zach Behrens
Published Oct 4, 2010 11:00 PM
distracted-driving-zero-tolerance.jpg
Photo by sergeant killjoy via Flickr
Our June member drive is live: protect this resource!
Right now, we need your help during our short June member drive to keep the local news you read here every day going. This has been a challenging year, but with your help, we can get one step closer to closing our budget gap. Today, put a dollar value on the trustworthy reporting you rely on all year long. We can't hold those in power accountable and uplift voices from the community without your partnership.

They warned you on Twitter and it starts today. The California Highway Patrol, along with other agencies across Los Angeles County, today are taking a zero-tolerance approach to the state's hands-free mobile laws. You cannot text while driving (basically) or hold a phone to your ear. “These two days of targeted enforcement are intended to educate through visual presence and enforcement of the laws,” said CHP Chief Steve Beeuwsaert.. “The message is simple: No call, text or any other distraction is worth someone losing their life. Pay attention and drive safely.”

State records shows that inattention played a role in some 30,000 collisions in California in 2008. More than 1,000 of those cases involved a driver who admitted a cell phone was being used at the time.

Distracted driving led to 5,500 deaths and 448,000 injuries on U.S. roadways in 2009.

Most Read
Best of LAist