Santa Clarita deputies issued nearly 90 citations for cell phone use last week, just before the start of Distracted Driving Awareness Month, officials said Thursday.

Last week, deputies issued 88 citations for cell phone use in Santa Clarita while they were on patrol, said Shirley Miller, a spokesperson for the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station.

“Remember the days when you needed to make a call while on the road and you had to stop and find a payphone?” Miller asked. “When it comes to cell phones and driving, it’s time to revert back to some of those old-fashioned habits.”

Santa Clarita drivers may not need to look for a pay phone, but should still pull over and stop at a safe location if they must send a text or make a phone call, Miller said.

“If you’re afraid friends or family will think you’re ignoring them, set your phone to an auto-text message that will let them know you’re driving,” Miller added.

During the month of April, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is set to join law enforcement agencies statewide in an effort to stop drivers who violate California’s hands-free cell phone law, according to Sheriff’s officials.

“Cell phones remain one of the top distractions for drivers,” said Robert Hill with the LASD in a previous KHTS article. “Like any bad habit, it can be hard to break, but this habit can have life-altering consequences.”

Throughout the month of April, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is planning to have additional deputies on patrol looking specifically for drivers on their phones, according to officials.

For more information about Distracted Driving Awareness Month, click here.

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