Red Phone: Last week, Red Phone received a call wondering just what exactly constitutes a distracted driver. Red Phone mentioned police are primarily looking for people texting or using cellphones while driving, but people could also be cited for having headphones on both ears.
There is also another aspect that people need to be aware of, said Jaime Rios, California Highway Patrol public information officer. If the device you are using is interfering in such a way that you are weaving or operating the vehicle in an unsafe manner an officer can cite you for the Basic Speed Law (22350 VC), he said.
The law states: “No person shall drive a vehicle upon a highway at a speed greater than is reasonable or prudent having due regard for weather, visibility, the traffic on, and the surface and width of, the highway, and in no event at a speed which endangers the safety of persons or property.”
The CHP is trying to raise awareness of the dangers of distracted driving during its month-long campaign called “It’s Not Worth It!” There have been hundreds of people killed in California in the last few years, and thousands have been injured as the result of collisions where at least one driver was distracted. A first time citation will cost a minimum of $159, with a second violation at least $279, according to the CHP.
So please keep your eyes on the road to make sure you and the people around you are safe.
