The California Office of Traffic Safety has developed a detailed plan that seeks to reduce the prevalence of distracted driving in California. In this post, we will take note of some of those initiatives.
Awareness month
In order to curb distracted driving, the OTS supports law enforcement officials at the local level. April, for example, is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month, which the OTS publicizes.
The OTS also provides local authorities with funds in order to combat distracted driving through the enforcement of laws.
Other distracted driving awareness campaigns
In addition the special awareness month in April, the OTS also focuses on raising awareness about the dangers of distracted driving through campaigns throughout the year. For example, the OTS supports Students Against Destructive Decisions to raise awareness through training programs for teens in high-risk communities. The OTS also funds an awareness campaign that informs young Californians of the dangers of distracted driving, known as Impact Teen Drivers. Other programs funded by the OTS target businesses and the general public.
Realistic goals
The OTC tries to set realistic goals. In its 2020 plan, one goal is to use education and enforcement to “reduce the number of California drivers observed using a handheld cell phone or texting 11 percent from the 2018 calendar base year of 4.5 percent to 4 percent by December 31, 2020.”
If you were harmed
Even when driving safety campaigns are effective, however, distracted driving kills 9 people a day nationally and injures more than a 1,000. If you or someone in your family has been harmed, reach out to an experienced attorney to discuss your legal options.
