Ed. Note: The following article is provided by the California Highway Patrol.

The California Highway Patrol is launching the statewide Adult Distracted Drivers traffic safety grant in partnership with the California Office of Traffic Safety, in response to the thousands of people that have been killed by distracted drivers and even more that have been injured.

The grant is a yearlong campaign that combines education and enforcement in order to combat distracted driving.

The CHP will complete a minimum of 50 distracted driving enforcement operations and at least 300 traffic safety presentations statewide by the end of Sept. 2016.

Many distractions exist while driving, but cell phones remain the top distraction because so many drivers use them for long periods of time each day.

Driving and talking on a cell phone are both tasks that require a lot of thought. When doing both, your brain cannot do either very well, according to CHP officials.

“For your safety and the well-being of those around you, keep your eyes on the road and not your phone,” CHP Commissioner Joe Farrow said. “Nothing on that phone is worth endangering It is important that drivers understand that the likelihood of being involved in an automobile accident increases dramatically if you drive distracted. Distracted driving puts everyone on the road in danger. Some of the most common types of distracted driving include: texting and driving, talking on a cell phone, eating while driving, grooming while driving, talking to passengers, operating a navigation system and adjusting the radio.”

The goal with the grant is to further educate the public about the hazards associated the distracted driving and ultimately encourage drivers to discontinue the potentially deadly habit, Farrow said.

The CHP is reminding residents that by simply changing your driving habits, you can help stop distracted driving.

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