Reporting Deputy: Sergeant Kasim Bikul
File # N/A
Details:
Perris, Calif. – April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month, and the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, Perris Station, encourages drivers to give the phone a break and focus on the road.
Throughout the month of April, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department - Perris Station will have additional officers on patrol specifically looking for drivers who violate the state’s hands-free cell phone law.
“A driver’s primary focus should be on the road, not their cellphone,” Riverside County Sheriff’s Department - Perris Station, Sergeant Kasim Bikul said. “That text message, phone call, email, video, or social media post is not worth the risk put to yourself and other motorists.”
If you need to make a call or send a text, pull over and park at a safe location. Drivers should silence their phones or put the phone out of reach, such as the glove box or trunk. According to the 2020 California Statewide Public Opinion Survey, more than 75% of surveyed drivers listed “Distracted Driving because of TEXTING” as their biggest safety concern.
Under current law, drivers are not allowed to hold a phone or other electronic device while behind the wheel. Drivers under 18 are not allowed to use a phone for any reason, including hands-free.
Funding for this program is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
For media inquiries regarding this incident please contact the Media Information Bureau.
If you are interested in a career with us, please apply at joinrsd.org or call 1-888-Join-RSD