Downtown Sacramento Distracted Driving Crackdown Aims To Curb Accidents

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — A collision crackdown on the streets of Sacramento centers on police going after distracted drivers.

We all know the phrase "accidents happen." Police say along stretches like one on J Street near the convention center, and at half a dozen locations around the city, they're simply happening too often.

As light rail moves at a fast pace, heavy traffic doesn't during rush hours along 16th Street near downtown. Drivers have seen more than a few collisions here.

That's why Sacramento Police are saturating a few areas of the city they call high-collision zones looking for distracted drivers who may be one cellphone call or text away from a car crash.

"I think it's a great idea. Actually I almost got into a few accidents today when people were on their cellphones, not paying attention."

Their focus is pretty widespread. It extends from 29th and 39th streets between H and T streets to the downtown corridor along J, K and L streets, and along 15th and 16th streets between I and Broadway.

These aren't the only collision hotspots. Police will also be on extra alert along the Stockton Boulevard corridor between 21st and 47th Streets, and two locations in the Bruceville/Valley High Drive area near Jacinto Avenue and Mack Road.

So why these areas? They're where police say most car wrecks occur.

The heavy mixture of pedestrian traffic, sometimes light rail stops and drivers in a hurry all converge into a danger zone.

No need to remind people trying to cross the streets in these areas.

"It's irritating when you're trying to cross the street, and you've got your kid with you, and you've got people just flying down on crosswalks."

The distracted driving crackdown is going on now and will continue every day through the month of September.