AAA, CHP, and BPD join efforts to call attention to distracted and impaired driving
April marks National Distracte Driving Awanress Month April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month, a campaign by Bakersfield police agencies, along with the Automobile Club of Southern California (AAA) and the California Police Department (CHP) are leading efforts to raise awareness about distracted driving and impaired driving. The parents of a man who was killed in a distracted driving crash in 2020 were joined by the parents of another man, Benjamin Montalvo, who was hit and killed by an intoxicated driver who was texting her boyfriend. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that in 2021, there were 2,522 people killed in traffic crashes involving a distracted driver, an average of ten people killed each day. Distracted driving can occur when a driver is distracted or under the influence, or when it is distracted by other activities that distracts from driving.
Published : 4 weeks ago by Tony Salazar, http://www.facebook.com/pages/eyewitness-news-bakersfieldnow/91093559934, Eyewitness News in
April marks National Distracted Driving Awareness Month, and Bakersfield police agencies, along with the Automobile Club of Southern California (AAA), are reminding the public about the deadly consequences of inattention behind the wheel.
Joining them at a press conference on Thursday were the parents of a Southern California man who was the victim of a distracted driving crash involving Benjamin Montalvo and his friend, who were riding their bicycles in Corona when an intoxicated driver was continuously texting her boyfriend on June 11, 2020. That's when the driver hit and killed Benjamin, whose parents, Kellie and Eddie Montalvo, now have to deal with the unimaginable loss of losing their son.
The parents are also joining AAA in sharing their son's story in hopes that other drivers think twice the next time they are intoxicated or distracted when driving.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2021, there were 2,522 people killed in traffic crashes involving a distracted driver, which is an average of ten people killed each day. That's why, on Thursday, they had stories of other victims with their story and a white flower on ten seats to represent the number of people killed on average daily.
Moreover, in 2021, NHTSA reported that 828 people had died in distracted driving crashes since the beginning of that year.
Distracted driving can mean texting, calling, changing music, or doing anything else that diverts the driver's attention from operating the car.
If you see a driver driving under the influence, pull over safely and call 911.
Eyewitness News Reporter Tony Salazar joined Auto CLub's Gianella Ghiglino in the critical message they are sending to drivers and preventative measures drivers can take to avoid driving distracted.
Topics: AAA