Year in and year out, thousands of people have been killed by distracted drivers and even more have been injured. By simply changing your driving habits, you can help stop distracted driving. The California Highway Patrol (CHP) is launching the statewide Adult Distracted Drivers traffic safety grant in partnership with the California Office of Traffic Safety. The grant is a yearlong campaign that combines education and enforcement in order to combat distracted driving. The CHP will complete a minimum of 50 distracted driving enforcement operations and at least 300 traffic safety presentations statewide by the end of September 2016.

Many distractions exist while driving, but cell phones remain the top distraction because so many drivers use them for long periods of time each day. Driving and talking on a cell phone are both tasks that require a lot of thought. When doing both, your brain cannot do either very well.

“For your safety and the well-being of those around you, keep your eyes on the road and not your phone,” CHP Commissioner Joe Farrow said. “Nothing on that phone is worth endangering a life.”

It is important that drivers understand that the likelihood of being involved in an automobile accident increases dramatically if you drive distracted. Distracted driving puts everyone on the road in danger. Some of the most common types of distracted driving include: texting and driving, talking on a cell phone, eating while driving, grooming while driving, talking to passengers, operating a navigation system, and adjusting the radio.

“Our goal with this grant is to further educate the public about the hazards associated with distracted driving and ultimately encourage drivers to discontinue the potentially deadly habit,” Commissioner Farrow added.

Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.