In an effort to raise awareness about the dangers of distracted driving, the Goleta Police Department and the Buellton Police Department Traffic Units issued 157 citations during the month of April to drivers who violated the state’s hands-free cell phone law. The effort was part of the National Distracted Driving Awareness Month.
“When following a vehicle where the driver is looking at, using or texting on their cell phone, they will exhibit the same driving patterns of someone who is intoxicated.” Sergeant Noel Rivas said. “All it takes is for the driver to take their eyes off the road for few seconds and miss the bicyclist in the bike lane or the pedestrian crossing in a marked crosswalk.”
California has had distracted driving laws on the books since 2008. Under current law, drivers are not allowed to hold their phone or other electronic device while driving. This includes talking, texting, using an app or even if stopped at a red light.
Using a handheld cell phone while driving is punishable by a fine. Violating the hands-free law for a second time within 36 months of a prior conviction for the same offense will result in a point being added to a driver’s record.
If you have an important phone call or need to program directions, pull over to a safe parking spot. Before driving, either silence your phone or put it somewhere you can’t reach.
Just because the National Distracted Driving Awareness Month is over, it doesn’t mean the Traffic Deputies are done looking for driver’s using their cellphones. Please be courteous to others.
Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
The Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Office provides police services for the Cities of Goleta and Buellton.
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Excellent work. See it everyday out there.
Every day. Everyday is an adjective.
You see it on your commute to Santa Barbara?
“When following a vehicle where the driver is looking at, using or texting on their cell phone, they will exhibit the same driving patterns of someone who is intoxicated.”
Using a phone while driving is one thing, but picking up your phone and glancing at it to see who called or what time it is, etc is hardly the same as “driving while intoxicated.” If that were true, then why aren’t they arresting people for eating while driving? Grabbing a water bottle and bringing it to their mouths while driving? Reaching to turn the radio dial?
I have seen people actually texting with both hands while in motion and that needs to stop, but just having the phone in your hand for a second to look at it? Nah.
I wonder what the actual circumstances were behind each of these?
sacjon: looking at your cellphone requires a whole set of visual-motor and cognitive functioning far different than sticking a donut in your mouth. In the two seconds it takes to grab the phone, look at it and put it back down, while thinking about what you just saw, your car as traveled 10-12 car lengths (117 feet, using 40mph) with you having near zero awareness of other cars or pedestrians around you.
“Reaching to turn the radio dial?” Are you like 80 years old or just time traveled from 1940’s? 😉
Back to the original post: This data is from the Sheriff Dept, Goleta and Buellton targeted enforcement operations. I appreciate the effort. Now how many of the thousands of daily violators are cited normally in a month? Answer: close to zero. How many in the city of Santa Barbara? Well I’d say that’s clearly zero, as there is no traffic enforcement of any kind ever around here. No need to stop for a red light if you can squeeze your way across the intersection, never mind the pedestrian crossing in the crosswalk that you did not bother to stop before turning right.
Recently, I watched a driver on Upper State Street approach the traffic light at Hope Ave. It was nighttime. Dark. The driver’s face was illuminated by their cellphone. I glanced over and saw them on a Facetime Video Call! As they rammed into the car in front as that driver stopped for the red light that the Facetime Caller never saw.
GINGER – I meant to say while stopped at a red light. My bad for not being clear. Picking up and looking at ANYTHING (a map, your sunglasses to make sure they’re not your wife’s), reaching into your McDonalds bag and making sure you grabbed a burger, not the fries, etc, can be done safely and shouldn’t be a ticketable offense.
Another question, why are hands free phones on the dashboard acceptable? You still touch them to change your map or answer a call (if there are no buttons on the wheel).
Just seems inconsistent. So many things to distract drivers these days but me sitting at a red light picking up my phone to see who I need to call back doesn’t seem like a crime.
When stopped at a red light, I like to give the “I’m on my cell phone” driver(s) next to me my full and uninterrupted attention. I stare and stare. They sometimes notice and get the message. A few times, I have photographed other cell phone-entranced drivers — and they are so engrossed in their phones, they don’t even notice. And, no, I’m not using my phone but using a camera I keep in my center console. I have a small collection of drivers staring down at their phones.
I once witnessed a “rammed from behind” accident on State St. — at Junipero and State Sts. We were heading south on State St. The driver ahead of me rear ended a guy in a small truck. Blam! A terrible impact. The truck driver had stopped to allow a bicyclist to pass, on his right, before he himself executed a right turn onto Junipero. I am 99.9% sure the driver who “didn’t stop in time” was on his cellphone. His foot never even touched his brakes.
MINI – LOL “And, no, I’m not using my phone but using a camera I keep in my center console. ”
Same. Exact. Thing.
What do you do with these photos you are illegally taking? Weird.
They broke the law.
1) How?
2) Stop pretending you care about the law.
🤦♂️
I’m hoping they’re not ticketing people that momentarily have the phone in their hand, but anyone spending a few seconds on it should be cited. And it’s not just phones. All the newer cars have actual computer screens in them, which have to be as bad. There are too many people that seem to pay more attention to the phone than the road. We’ve all seen that person that stares at their lap more than looking forward. And that person at the stop light that seems to just sit there after it turns green. How ’bout the ones that don’t even try and hide it… I’m of the opinion that a huge portion of the population can’t even drive properly when they’re totally focused on the road and these damn phones just make it so much worse – for everyone. I’ve thought for a long time that there should be some dedicated volunteer force certified and empowered to give tickets for phone usage while driving. I’ll bet money that the majority of accidents we see through the Montecito/Milpas area and probably all of the rollovers that seem to be epidemic are caused by phones and distracted driving. The thing I can’t wrap my head around is WHY do people need to actually touch their phone in the car. I mean, you get in your car to go somewhere – point A to point B. You had already made plans for the trip before you got in the car. Most trips are less than 20 mins. You have already made a plan and are executing it. What the hell could happen in that time that requires your attention? Nothing! Absolutely NOTHING. And since I believe that’s true, I also think that if you can’t ignore it for that time it’s a clear sign of dependence and even addiction. So, I hope they ticket enough people to make a difference and acknowledge that some relatively innocent people will likely get hit. I highly recommend those magnetic phone holders that slip onto the AC vent slats.Sooo handy.