By SDCN Staff
Sacramento, CA–Distracted driving causes hundreds of crashes across California each year, and violations of the state’s hands-free cellphone law remain an ongoing concern.
As part of Distracted Driving Awareness Month, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) is urging drivers to put down their phones and stay attentive to help make roads safer for everyone.
Every year, CHP officers issue more citations to drivers violating California’s hands-free law, highlighting the ongoing challenge to change driver behavior. In 2025, the CHP issued over 111,700 citations for distracted driving, nearly 20 percent more than in 2024.
“Every crash caused by distracted driving can be avoided. Too often, drivers look away from the road, risking their lives and those of others. No text, call or notification is more important than safety. Put your phone down, eliminate distractions and drive as if someone’s life depends on it-because it does,” Commissioner Sean Duryee stated in the department’s news release.
The consequences of distracted driving extend far beyond just a citation and can include crashes resulting in serious injury or death. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that 3,275 people died and nearly 325,000 others were injured in distraction-related crashes in the U.S. in 2023.
Any activity that diverts attention from driving, such as using a cellphone, eating, adjusting controls or interacting with passengers-increases the risk of a crash.
