Police Operation Scheduled to Prevent Distracted Driving

The Menifee Police Department will deploy extra officers on local streets Wednesday in an operation designed to stop distracted driving.

In 2012, 3,328 people were killed and 421,000 were injured nationwide in crashes involving a distracted driver, according to a news release. That same year, 11 percent of fatal crashes were reported as distraction-affected crashes.

Following are recommendations by the Riverside County Sheriff's Department to help prevent distracted driving.

You can:
-- Turn off electronic devices and put them out of reach before starting to drive.
-- Speak up when you are a passenger and your driver uses an electronic device while driving.
-- Offer to make the call for the driver, so his or her full attention stays on the driving task.

Parents can:

-- Be good role models for young drivers and set a good example. Talk with your teens about responsible driving.
-- If you know your teen is on the road , don’t call or text them until you know they have reached their destination.