Distracted driving remains one of the most significant threats to public safety on our roads. This April, the Elk Grove Police Department (EGPD) has joined forces with the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) for National Distracted Driving Awareness Month. This partnership is a high-visibility effort to curb the “deadly epidemic” of handheld device use behind the wheel and ensure that Elk Grove residents reach their destinations safely.
The Strategy: “Put the Phone Away or Pay.” Through a grant provided by the OTS, via the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the Elk Grove Police Department has deployed additional officers specifically tasked with identifying distracted driving violations. This collaboration includes a “zero-tolerance” enforcement period that began in early April and will continue with targeted operations throughout the month.
The campaign, themed “Put the Phone Away or Pay,” focuses on the strict enforcement of California’s hands-free laws. Under these regulations, drivers are prohibited from holding a phone or electronic device for any reason – including texting, talking, or using apps—even while stopped at a red light.
This partnership matters based on statistics from 2024 and 2025 that show a rise in distracted driving incidents across California. According to recent OTS data, nearly 71% of drivers identified distracted driving as their top safety concern. The EGPD and OTS partnership aims to address this by:
- Increasing Visibility: Utilizing both marked and low-profile patrol vehicles to detect violators.
- Targeting High-Risk Groups: Special focus is placed on younger drivers (ages 15–20), who statistically have the highest proportion of distraction-related fatal crashes.
- Stiffening Consequences: A first offense results in a significant fine, but a second violation within 36 months now adds a point to the driver’s record, impacting insurance rates and driving privileges.
As litigation attorneys helping people injured due to the careless acts of others, we see the aftermath of avoidable crashes and we at Guenard & Bozarth encourage you to follow these safety protocols:
- Silence Notifications: Use “Do Not Disturb” or “Driving Mode” to block incoming alerts.
- Set It and Forget It: Program your GPS and select your music or podcast before you take the car out of park.
- The “Glovebox Rule”: If you find the temptation to check your phone too great, place it in the glovebox or the backseat until you arrive.
The Elk Grove Police Department’s mission this month isn’t to just to issue citations, they want to actually change behavior. No text message or social media notification is worth a life.
We represent people injured as a result of the careless and reckless acts of others. At the end of the day your case can only be settled one time and you need to know all of the facts beforehand. Insurance companies have paid our clients hundreds of millions of dollars in compensation because we uncover the facts. When insurance companies fail to offer full compensation, we are not intimidated at the prospect of going to trial. We help with serious injuries that require serious representation. We are the Law Offices of Guenard & Bozarth, LLP. Our attorneys have more than 60 years of experience specializing in only representing injured people. Call GB Legal 24/7/365 at 916-714-7672 or visit www.gblegal.com