During the month of April Bakersfield Police Department Traffic Enforcement stepped up their distracted driving patrol activities as part of the April Distracted Driving Awareness month.
As a result BPD issued 428 citations to distracted drivers. The citations
were listed as follows:
130 drivers were cited for (Cell Phone Use)
273 drivers were cited for (Texting While Driving)
6 teen drivers were cited for (Under 18 Using Cell Phone)
19 drivers were issued citations for other violations.
The goal was to increase voluntary compliance by drivers, and to help motorists to better understand the importance of driving while distracted. This safety initiative took place statewide as well.
Recent legislation now makes it illegal to use your smartphone’s apps will driving. BPD representatives said that in order to make the roadways safer is starts with changing dangerous driver habits.
The Bakersfield Police Department also suggested the following Safety Tips:
- If you receive a text message or need to send one, pull over and park your car in a safe
location, but ‘never’ on a freeway. Once you are safely off the road, it is safe to text.
- Designate your passenger as your “designated texter.” Allow them access to your phone
to respond to calls or messages.
- Do not engage in social media scrolling or messaging while driving.
- Cell phone use can be habit-forming. Struggling to not text and drive? Put the cell phone
in the trunk or back seat of your vehicle until you arrive at your final destination.
The Bakersfield Police Department is deploying extra traffic officers with grant-funded
