Traffic Safety Enforcement Operations Plan for San Francisco with OTS Grant 19-029

The San Francisco Police Department will conduct a Traffic Safety Enforcement Operation on March 18th and 25th with a focus on distracted driving, especially through the use of handheld cell phones and texting. Distracted driving is anything that takes your eyes or mind off the road, or your hands off the steering wheel. These are some of the most dangerous things we do behind the wheel that many people do not think about because these actions are so common.

It is important to recognize the dangers of distracted driving. In California, cell phone laws were enacted to help prevent distracted driving and make roads safer. The law prohibits driving while holding a cell phone in your hand. If the cell phone is used in a hands-free manner, such as voice command or the use of a mounting device, it is completely legal. While driving, you can single swipe or tap the screen to activate or deactivate a feature or function, but you cannot text, scroll or tap multiple times. The law allows using your cell phone for emergency purposes, including, but not limited to, an emergency call to a law enforcement agency, health care provider, fire department, or other emergency services agency or entity.

Any driver under the age of 18 cannot use a cell phone or any other electronic wireless device at all (not hand-held, hands-free, Bluetooth, speaker phone, or any other means) except for the above emergency purposes.

San Francisco is committed to eliminating traffic deaths on our streets as part of Vision Zero SF. Vision Zero SF is our city’s commitment to prioritize safe streets for everyone.

Funding for this program is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.