Newport Beach PD Tickets 491 for Cell Phone/Driving Violations in April

From the Newport Beach Police Department:

In April, the Newport Beach Police Department joined more than 200 other local law enforcement agencies and the Highway Patrol in a statewide Distracted Driving Awareness Month campaign.  

Newport Beach Police Officers issued 491 citations to drivers who were texting or operating hand-held cell phones during this period.

Distracted driving is a serious traffic safety concern that puts everyone on the road at risk. Eighty percent of vehicle crashes involve some sort of driver inattention and up to 6,000 people nationwide are killed in crashes where driver distractions are involved. Talking on a cell phone or texting is the number one source of distracted driving.

Although the statewide campaign has concluded, the Newport Beach Police Department will continue to work with the community to provide education and enforcement in an effort to reduce the number of distracted driving incidents in our city.

The Newport Beach Police Department and the Office of Traffic Safety offer the following tips:

• Never text and drive.
• Turn off your phone when you get behind the wheel.
• Don’t call or text anyone when you know they are likely to be driving.
• Avoid additional distractions, such as eating and drinking, reading, using maps, grooming, and using other electronic devices while driving. Pull over or stop your vehicle if you must engage in these activities