It’s national driving awareness month which goes hand in hand with teen safety driving week.
Lemor Abrams shows us how officers are aggressively watching distracted and reckless driving.
California Highway Patrol and more than 200 Law Enforcement agencies across the state are in maximum enforcement mode.
“It is distracted driving awareness month so make sure you don't text or drive, or talk on cell phone while driving. ok?,”
Last April alone, officers issued 57,000 tickets in
The flashing message: "it's not worth it."
Every teen needs to know- they're not guaranteed a second chance to make a good choice,” said Fresno Mom Martha Tessmer.
A trip to the movies in a car full of friends...ended up being Martha Tessmer's son's last road trip.
Tessmer joined the "impact teen drivers" campaign to use Donavan's story to save the lives of other teens.
“What I want every young person to realize is that every road trip they make, every car they're in... they need to think about that as the most important road trip of their life,” she said.
Officers are also trying to discourage unsafe driving habits including applying makeup, and eating…but say cell phones are the biggest problem.
“The message that we're trying to get out to teenagers as well as adult drivers is to put your phone down. Texts can wait. The phone call can wait. Pull off to a safe spot if it's necessary,” said
In 2010 distracted driving killed about 2700 people...16 to 19 year olds.
And statistics show drivers in that age range are three times more likely than older drivers to crash and die.
Just this week, officers say texting while driving killed a local man.
“They found the cell phone on the driver in his lap with a half written text message,” said Officer Fisher.