Desert Drivers Have Mixed Reaction to Oprah’s ‘No Phone Zone Day’

She has been promoting it for months, and the day is finally here.

Oprah Winfrey and her production company are taking a stand against distracted driving by launching their first annual “National No Phone Zone Day.”

Safety organizations all across America, California and even here in the desert are supporting the cause.

News Channel 3 surveyed the roads Friday searching for distracted drivers, and it didn’t take long to find them as one woman was spotted talking on a cellphone at a red light and asked if she knew her actions were against the law.

“I’m lost and I’m late for work,” she replied. “Get out of my face.”

She wasn’t the only one.

Another man was found talking on his cell phone, while making a wide turn off Fred Waring in Palm Desert, driving in a large U-Haul truck, and ust one second of inattention could make slamming the breaks to avoid an accident moot.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, more than 6,000 people died in 2008 because of distracted driving, and more than 500,000 motorists were injured.

“We all forget how difficult the task of driving was when we first started driving,” said Officer Ramon Perez, California Highway Patrol.

“You have to look for pedestrians and other cars and traffic signals and signs,” said Sgt. David Walton, Riverside County Sheriff’s Department.

Radios and CD players and GPS devices are also distractions.

“I have seen accidents that were caused by distracted drivers and that’s always a bad, bad, thing,” said Officer Melissa Demarais, Palm Springs Police Department.

Oprah Winfrey asked all drivers Friday to take her “No Phone Zone Pledge.” By pledging, drivers agree not to text or talk on their phone while driving a car.

Click here to take Oprah’s No Phone Zone Pledge

“Sometimes they’re picking up their children from school, trying to do a couple of things during lunch or going to and from work – you just need to be careful,” said Ben Guitron, Indio Police Department.

As of April, more than 180,000 people have signed Oprah’s pledge, including officers with the Palm Springs Police Department, and at any given time during the day, more than 800,000 cars are driven by someone using a handheld phone, according to the NHTSA.

Palm Springs Police officers encouraged drivers to use bluetooth devices.

“Or, pull off to the side of the road to conduct their conversation,” said Demarais.

23 states, including california, as well as the District of Columbia have banned text messaging for all drivers.

“Anybody under the age of 18. . . or younger cannot use any sort of wireless communication device at all,” said Perez.

Adults 18 and older are by California law required to use a hands-free device.

“I’ve been cut off on the road,” said Angela Wlordarz, a sales executive in Palm Desert who drive 2,000 miles per month.

Some are going as far to say talking or texting on the phone behind the wheel is just as bad or worse than drunk driving.

“When you have a crisis or something is happening, your emotions get involved and I think that you’re still distracted,” said Robin Crossvaradi, a victim of distracted driving. “So, I really think that they shouldn’t have anything.”

Dan Spurgeon, a part-time Palm Springs resident, said the comparison to drunk driving is a stretch.

“Being distracted and impaired are two different things,” he explained.

But, Spurgeon admits that in the past, you may have seen him stopped at a red light sending a text.

“I’m guilty,” he said. “I’ve actually done it once or twice.

When asked if he has learned his lesson, he said “it’s too dangerous.”

Driver’s who violate the cellphone law are fined $20 for the first offense, and $50 for each repeat offense.