Category Archives: cell phones

Buses, traffic create blind spots for drivers near UCSC

Dear Street Smarts, Q: Due to the large amount of traffic at the east entrance to UCSC, in my opinion, left hand turn lanes large enough to accommodate buses are necessary for turning left northbound onto Glenn Coolidge Drive from … Continue reading

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Posted in bicycle, bus, California Vehicle Code, cell phones, CHP, commute, congestion, consumer affairs, distracted drivers, DMV, driver education, Driver safety, Highway 1, inattentive drivers, Intersection, law enforcement, pedestrians, public works, public works projects, road construction, road work, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz Public Works, sidewalks, texting, traffic, traffic citation, traffic hazards, traffic laws, traffic safety, traffic ticket, traffic violation, transportation, UCSC, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | View Comments

Why police officers can talk non-hands-free while driving

Q: I’ve observed Capitola police officers regularly use their mobile phones while driving! Why? Rick Caldarella, via email A: This topic has appeared in Street Smarts before. But being that this is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month and officers will … Continue reading

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Posted in California Vehicle Code, Capitola, Capitola Police, cell phones, CHP, distracted drivers, DMV, driver education, Driver safety, emergency responders, law enforcement, police, Public safety, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz Police, Scotts Valley, Scotts Valley Police, texting, traffic citation, Traffic Enforcement, traffic laws, traffic safety, traffic ticket, traffic violation, transportation, Uncategorized, Watonville Police | Tagged , , , , | View Comments

April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month, police are cracking down

Law enforcement locally, as well as statewide will be keeping their eyes peeled for distracted drivers during the month of April, Distracted Driving Awareness Month. The Santa Cruz Area California Highway Patrol office will be teaming up with the police … Continue reading

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Posted in Capitola, Capitola Police, cell phones, CHP, distracted drivers, DMV, driver education, Driver safety, law enforcement, police, Public safety, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz Police, Scotts Valley, Scotts Valley Police, teen drivers, teens, texting, traffic laws, UCSC, Uncategorized, Watonville Police, watsonville | Tagged , , , , | View Comments

Dealing with school zone traffic scofflaws

In recent weeks, Street Smarts received two emails from adults concerned about the things they see drivers do around schools during morning drop-off and afternoon pick-up. While playing child chauffeur last month to help out a friend, Kelly Newman was … Continue reading

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Posted in cell phones, children, CHP, commute, congestion, crossing guards, crosswalks, distracted drivers, Driver safety, inattentive drivers, law enforcement, Office of Traffic Safety, pedestrian safety, pedestrians, police, Public safety, Right-of-Way, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz Police, school bus, school zones, Soquel, speed, texting, traffic citation, Traffic Enforcement, traffic laws, traffic safety, traffic violation, transportation, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | View Comments

Today’s Start Smart class canceled to honor fallen SCPD officers

Today’s Start Smart class has been canceled and those who planned to attend are invited to the next regularly scheduled course April 25. The change is to allow consideration of Thursday’s memorial service for two Santa Cruz Police officers killed … Continue reading

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Posted in cell phones, child passenger safety, CHP, distracted drivers, driver education, Driver safety, drowsy driving, DUI, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz Police, speed, Start Smart, tailgating, teen drivers, teens, texting, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | View Comments

Did you know…

The following bits of info come from Ask the DMV, the agency’s weekly transportation column that answers frequently asked questions from patrons. If your child has a learner’s permit on the road to getting his or her driver license and … Continue reading

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Posted in cell phones, DMV, driver education, driver license, transportation, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | View Comments

Transportation grant aims to save lives

The Santa Cruz County Health Services Agency is the recipient of $120,000 in grant funding from the California Office of Traffic Safety. “This grant funding will greatly enhance our work with collaborative partners in public safety, schools and community-based groups … Continue reading

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Posted in alternative transportation, bicycle, bicycle education, bike safety, booster seats, cell phones, child passenger safety, child seats, children, county, driver education, Driver safety, Driving impaired, DUI, electric vehicle, fuel conservation, green vehicles, Helmets, impaired drivers, inattentive drivers, Office of Traffic Safety, passenger safety, pedestrian education, pedestrian safety, pedestrians, Public safety, teen drivers, teens, texting, traffic safety, transportation, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | View Comments

New traffic laws usher in 2013

Several new traffic laws will be added to the books Tuesday, Jan. 1. Here’s a summary from the California Highway Patrol: Driving Under the Influence (AB 2020) – People arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs can … Continue reading

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Posted in booster seats, bus, cell phones, child passenger safety, child seats, children, CHP, distracted drivers, DMV, driver education, driver license, Driver safety, Driving impaired, DUI, electric vehicle, EV, green vehicles, impaired drivers, inattentive drivers, insurance, law enforcement, passenger safety, Public safety, red light camera, texting, traffic laws, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | View Comments

Wet weather tips for drivers, cyclists ad pedestrians

Rain is in the forecast all weekend long, as well as at least one day next week. Here are some tips to help you get to your destination safety from the California Office of Traffic Safety, with a few additives … Continue reading

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Posted in Aptos, bicycle, bicycle education, cell phones, child passenger safety, child seats, children, cycling, driver education, Driver safety, Felton, law enforcement, Office of Traffic Safety, pedestrian education, pedestrian safety, pedestrians, police, Public safety, rain, roads, Santa Cruz, Scotts Valley, Senior drivers, seniors, Soquel, speed, Speed limit, teen drivers, teens, texting, tires, traffic laws, traffic safety, traffic signal, traffic signs, travel, Uncategorized, watsonville, weather | Tagged , , , , | View Comments

Drugged driving, cell phone use behind the wheel problems on California’s roads

Drugged drivers and those distracted by their cell phones are big problems California’s motorists would like to see addressed, according to a Traffic Safety Survey released Tuesday by the Office of Traffic Safety. Late this past summer, information gatherers questioned … Continue reading

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Posted in cell phones, distracted drivers, Driving impaired, DUI, Office of Traffic Safety, texting, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | View Comments