California Highway Patrol officers will be cracking down on distracted drivers in and around Indio beginning Tuesday.
The CHP’s Indio Area and San Gorgonio Area offices are partnering with the agency’s Air Operations Unit to catch drivers who are talking or texting on their cell phones while on the road.
The operation, which began at 2 p.m. Tuesday, coincides with April being Distracted Driving Awareness month.
“Nothing on your phone is worth endangering a life when you drive,” CHP Commissioner Amanda Ray said in a news release. “Your primary focus should always be on the road and the task of driving your vehicle safely.”
In 2021, the CHP issued more than 55,800 citations for distracted driving. According to preliminary data compiled in the Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System, that same year driver inattention resulted in over 13,000 crashes.