Police on the Lookout for Cell Phone Zombies

Petaluma Police Department are warning drivers that there will be “zero tolerance” to those texting or talking on hand-held cell phones.

Distracted driving is a serious traffic safety concern that has resulted in thousands of accidents across the state, including some fatalities, such as the death of a Rohnert Park toddler in December 2010 by a young woman who was texting while driving.

In fact, younger, inexperienced drivers under 20 years old have the highest proportion of distraction-related fatal crashes, according to Petaluma police. Studies also show that texting while driving can delay a driver’s reaction time just as severely as having a blood alcohol content of a legally drunk driver.

And although hands-free devices are legally allowed, they also can contribute to accidents because they cause "inattention blindness" and result in distracted driving, say police.

"When over one third of your brain’s functioning that should be on your driving moves over to cell phone talking, you can become a cell phone “zombie,” said Petaluma Traffic Sergeant Ken Savano.

The current minimum ticket cost is $159, with subsequent tickets costing at least $279.