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The California Highway Patrol Steps Up Their Attempts to Curb Distracted Driving

It is not difficult to see that distracted driving has become a serious issue not just in California but throughout the country. The bad news is that the number of distracted driving accidents continues to grow. The good news is that the California Highway Patrol is taking action to reduce these accidents significantly.

Please keep reading to learn more about their efforts. If you have been injured in this type of accident, or have lost a loved one in an accident, please contact The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker at 800-333-0000 for a free legal consultation.

The Campaign Began on October 1, 2019

The campaign in question is between the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) and the California Highway Patrol (CHP) and will last for one year from its starting date of October 1, 2019. Unlike other distracted driving campaigns that generally focus on teen drivers, this one is specifically targeted to adult drivers.

The campaign will include 100 distracted driving enforcement operations throughout California as well as 600+ traffic safety presentations. This is a new campaign that will not take the place of the beforementioned teen and young adult driver campaign.

How Dangerous is Distracted Driving?

The statistics are clear that distracted driving is a serious issue. In 2017 alone, more than 3,100 deaths were associated with distracted driving. This includes nearly one out of every ten fatal accidents in the United States. In that same year, 6% of all drivers who were in fatal accidents were distracted when the accident happened.

Of course, drivers are not the only ones who suffer – nearly 600 people not in vehicles were injured due to distracted driving. This includes pedestrians, cyclists, and others on the road.

Distracted Driving Can Come in Many Forms

When most people think about distracted driving, they think about people talking on the phone or texting while driving. These are indeed two of the most dangerous examples of distracted driving, but they are far from the only examples. You may be surprised to learn that eating while driving is just as dangerous as texting while driving, or that a hands-free headset can still reduce your concentration and ability to drive even though your hands are on the wheel.

Talk to an Attorney if You Are Injured in an Accident Caused by Distracted Driving

If you are injured by a party that was distracted while driving, then you may be owed compensation. The next step to take is to contact The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker at 800-333-0000. You can begin by requesting a free legal consultation. We will carefully consider your case and offer our best advice on how you can proceed. Call today and let’s get started.