Learning the dangers of distracted driving

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month, and law enforcement officials are urging drivers to think before they make a call or send a text. In the time it takes to check a text message, your car will have traveled more than the length of a football field.

To save lives and educate all Californians -- especially young drivers -- about the dangers of distracted driving, the California Office of Traffic Safety, California Highway Patrol, Impact Teen Drivers, and more than 200 law enforcement agencies statewide are working together on increased education and enforcement efforts for National Distracted Driving Awareness Month in April and California Teen Safe Driving Week -- the first week of April.

While distracted driving can take on many forms and affects all road users, young drivers are at a greater risk. The office of traffic safety is using a message of "silence the distraction" in new public service announcements aimed at getting drivers to turn off their phones while driving so they won't be tempted to use them.

More than 3,300 people were killed in distracted driving crashes in 2012. California drivers caught texting will receive a $162 dollar ticket.