The California Highway Patrol is kicking off Distracted Driving Awareness Month with a 24-hour period of maximum enforcement. 

From 6 a.m. on Tuesday, April 1, to 6 a.m. on Wednesday, April 2, all available CHP officers will be on patrol to focus on enforcing distracted driving violations. 

April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month. The most common examples of distracted driving include texting, talking on the phone and using social media. 

Adjusting the radio or GPS, applying makeup, and eating or drinking are also risky actions that can take away seconds a driver may need to avoid a crash. 

“Distracted driving is dangerous and avoidable,” said CHP Assistant Commissioner Rodney Ellison in a video CHP posted to social media on Saturday. “No call, no text, and no distraction are worth a life.”

In 2022, distracted driving killed 3,308 people in the country, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 

“Keep your eyes on the road, hands on the wheel and make the smart choice,” Ellison said. 

Alise Maripuu is an intern at BCN with a focus on covering the Peninsula. Originally from San Carlos, Alise discovered her passion for journalism after studying abroad in Thailand during her senior year attending UC Santa Cruz. Her experience in Thailand taught her the consequences for democracy when living in a society with strict laws against free speech. After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in history, Alise took courses in journalism at Skyline Community College to learn how to write for news. As the Chief Copy Editor on Skyline’s student-run newspaper for the 2023-24 school year, Alise gained editing and managing experience leading a team of reporters. She covered hyperlocal stories affecting her campus such as the rise in food and housing insecurity. Alise wants to focus on data journalism.