Chula Vista Police Cite 73 Distracted Drivers

Dozens of motorists were cited in Chula Vista Thursday evening for using their cellphones while driving.

The Chula Vista Police Department (CVPD) conducted a Distracted Driver Operation from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. focused on those talking or texting while driving.

In the end, 73 drivers were cited for using their phones behind the wheel – 19 for texting specifically and 54 for using their phone to talk or do something else.

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Police said another seven drivers were stopped and ticketed for either having a suspended license or no license at all. Three cars were impounded during the operation and two other motorists were cited for a red light violation or not having insurance.

The successful Distracted Driving Operation was funded by the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration as part of the continuing efforts to keep our roadways safe.

Over recent years, San Diego has seen several fatal car accidents due to distracted driving.

Back in January, a San Diego Gas & Electric truck fatally struck a mother and injured two children in the Shelltown community. Officials called the incident a case of distracted driving with deadly consequences.

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Meanwhile, cell phone use among motorists continues to be a major issue, including with teenage drivers.

New research presented last week showed that more than half of teen drivers use their phones behind the wheel, often times taking calls from their own parents who expect to be able to reach their children at all times.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) says 71 percent of teens or young adults admit they’ve written or sent a text while driving, while 78 percent have read a text message while driving.

In 2012 alone, the NHTSA says 3,328 people were killed in distracted driving crashes across the country. Texting while driving, according to the Administration, creates a crash risk 23 times worse than driving while not distracted.
 

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