Washington and California joined the ranks of about 30 other states yesterday banning the use of cellular phones while driving.
The new laws are almost identical in both states, with California having stiffer rules for those under 18 and Washington having a total ban on text messaging too (since Jan 1).
The good lads at Jalopnik did a great break down of the new laws in both states.
>We hate to be the bearers of bad news, California and Washington state, but today, July 1, is the day that a new hands-free driving law goes into effect. Luckily for you, we’re here to break down the new rules and explain what you can and can’t do, along with providing some alternative options. Don’t live in California or Washington? Check out our guide here to see what’s happening in your state.
[ The Facts About California, Washington’s Cell Phone Bans ] Jalopnik.com
It’s been law for a while here in the UK and more people than ever seem to be using mobile phones while driving and people are still being killed due to accidents caused by using them – hopefully the ban will work better in the US.
This is all fine and dandy, but are traffic cops willing to enforce the law and ticket those caught using the phones while driving?
Also, its been proven that even handsfree phone kits are equally distracting as holding the cell phone on one hand and driving with the other.
Cell phone usage while driving a motor vehicle has been compared to driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Yes it is that distracting!
This law means <i><b>nothing</b></i> unless LEO’s actually issue tickets for it.
Also its a great myth that its the act of holding a cell phone in your hand is dangerous, look at every study and they will point out its the act of communicating while driving that is the root issue here. Having both hands on the wheel still makes no difference if the person is impaired. While I support this law its a serious joke, this is equal to making it illegal to hold and open container of alcohol, but saying its ok if your drunk.
Silliness in the extreme
Great news for headset manufacturers and bluetooth chipset makers. Pretty pointless otherwise. Gov. Schwarzenegger publicly said he expects this to reduce highway fatalities by 300 before the end of the year, which seems overly optimistic.
>It’s been law for a while here in the UK and more people than ever seem to be using mobile phones while driving and people are still being killed due to accidents caused by using them – hopefully the ban will work better in the US.
Same in Chicago. It’s been a law for years and I still see people using handsets all the time.
My local PD cited 21 drivers yesterday and issue 53 warnings in my county. The base fact a large number of drivers are far to distracted to be on the road in the states in my view. Driving is a full time endeavor that really doesn’t tolerate distractions very well. Then add the generally very poor driving skills that are commonplace and you have a recipe for a issue.
As money and tax bases tighten up, this may become a handy revenue source for a lot of jurisdictions. I quit answering in the car, it’s as bad as one handing, and I always shut the backseat off in combat situations, anyway – too much extraneous information to process and concentrate on the kill at the same time.
Pitty there have to be laws to govern common sense – Shut Up And Drive.
First offense in California is only $20. That’s not much for something that is almost as dangerous as driving drunk.
I live in CT where there have been limits to driving with a cell phone since October 2006. The law is roundly ignored. I wrote to my state senator about it. She agreed that the law was ignored, but didn’t offer more.
While driving it is not unusual to have someone do something foolishly dangerous. When I look at the driver, I (informally) would say that 75% of those are talking on phones.
Not sure what the big deal is…. They still are allowing you to use hands-free devices…
Well, here’s a <a href="http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/369238_cellphones02.html" rel="nofollow">link</a> to the Seattle PI with an article about enforcement of the law.
I’m amused with the photo of the lady on the phone, though I wonder if the photographer had to get permission.
We’ll see if the law is still enforced in the coming months, though.
Pedro is right, just use speakerphone on your iphone, or use one white apple earbud attached to the iphone.
Most phones have speakerphones. With all the new cars catching up with bluetooth uplink like the newer BMW’s and MINI’s(with a big price tag), maybe people will use this feature more.
Over 100 people were cited in San Diego county on July 1.
We have all driven behind or had a close call with someone who is “phone drunk”. Usually when we see someone driving erraticly we EXPECT to see them on the phone as we pass by them. It’s about time lawmakers address this. Driving while texting is even worse so the hands-free aspect of the new law should help with that.
Does motoringfile have an R56 bluetooth retrofit guide? Or does anyone know how much it costs to be fitted to the R56 post production? I’m sure there are some people like myself that didn’t have that installed when they should have.
A quick search brings me a couple of stories that might help.
<a href="https://www.motoringfile.com/2008/05/12/diy-iphone-your-mini/" rel="nofollow">connect an iPhone to your MINI on the cheap</a>, and <a href="https://www.motoringfile.com/2006/03/10/universal-bluetooth-handsfree-install-pdf/" rel="nofollow">the Universal bluetooth handsfree install pdf</a>. Hope they help.
Here in Aus, you have never been allowed to use anything but hands free, so it should be well ingrained in people.
Anyone on a provisional license looses enough points to loose their license.
Reckon any of this stops these fools from continuing to have a good old gossip, or worse – text!!!
Young provisional drivers seem to be the worst and yet they have the most to loose – their license!
As Nervous said above…
“Pitty there have to be laws to govern common sense – Shut Up And Drive”
Common sense – if only everyone possessed it!!!
I’m all for not using the handset while driving – (IF Police see you here in Germany they WILL stop you and it’s a ticket plus a point – get caught a second time in one year, you can say bye bye to your license for a month – and yet people drive with handsets to their ears)- but my opinion is that not only holding a phone in your hand causes accidents. I notice myself that being on the phone while driving (with handsfree devices) is the actual distraction.
Furthermore I think that driving with a phone in your hand is pretty much the same as drinking coffee from a cup, eating or smoking while driving. All things that take your attention from the road for at least a second. And I think we all know that is enough for bad things to happen. So why is that allowed? Just a thought.
Cheers,
Patrick