You may not be surprised to learn that the use of cell phones while driving is on the rise and so too, is the problem of distracted driving.
April is ‘Distracted Driving Month,’ which means the CHP and other agencies have stepped up enforcement of the illegal use of cell phones while driving.
KRON4’s Rob Fladeboe rode along with Officer Ross Lee who says the CHP is out this month actively patrolling and looking for people who may be distracted by the improper and illegal use of cell phones and other activities while driving.
Lee says they are easy to spot.
It’s not clear to what extent drivers are breaking the law which says you can’t hold and use the phone outside of its cradle or mount. However, a new study by the road-safety data analytics firm “Zendrive” finds that the use of cellphones while driving is up from 7 to 8.2 percent in San Jose.
Particularly dangerous is texting while driving, says Officer Lee. Even stopped at a light, picking the phone is illegal.
Eating while behind the wheel is also a form of distracted driving.
A mechanic was pulled over for using a hand-held diagnostic device, technically not illegal but a distraction nonetheless.
The Zendrive study concluded that distracted driving is on the increase in every state, linking cell phone use to increases in vehicle collisions and pedestrian deaths.
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