April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month

The Rohnert Park Department of Public Safety reminds drivers to stay focused, keep their eyes forward, and hands on the wheel. Distractions like checking a phone, using an in-dash touchscreen or car phone app, adjusting the radio, or eating can have devastating consequences.

“Distracted driving continues to put everyone on the road at risk,” Sergeant Kieran Keaney said. “When drivers take their eyes off the road, even for a few seconds, lives can change forever. Safety starts with each of us—put the phone down, limit distractions, and help people get home safely.”

According to the 2025 California Statewide Public Opinion Survey, nearly 71.4% of drivers said distracted driving from texting or checking a phone was their biggest safety concern. In 2023, 158 people were killed in distracted driving crashes in California, a 6.8% increase from the previous year. These numbers are likely underreported because distraction cannot always be determined after a crash.

Rohnert Park DPS officers will be actively looking for drivers violating the state’s hands-free cell phone law throughout April.

Stay focused and protect everyone on the road:
• Put your phone away and silence notifications.
• Set GPS and adjust mirrors before driving.
• Avoid eating, grooming, or adjusting controls while driving.
• Be a role model and speak up if a driver is distracted.
• Pull over safely if something urgent comes up.

Click here to read the full press release: https://local.nixle.com/alert/12301799/