Californians Still Hardheaded About Cell Phone Laws
Tuesday, July 6th, 2010Last June, Los Angeles city officials including Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa along with AT&T took a firm stand against the evils of driving while texting (DWT) during the launch of the “No Texting While Driving” public safety campaign.
However, during the second anniversary of California’s handheld cellphone use ban this July 1, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) reported that too many motorists continue to bend and break the law.
In California, drivers below 18 years old are absolutely prohibited from driving a motor vehicle while using a wireless telephone or a mobile service device while persons 18 and older are prohibited from operating a motor vehicle while using a hand-held cellular telephone. Similarly, it is against the law to text while driving.
According to the CHP, more than 1200 traffic collisions throughout the state have been caused by distracted drivers on their cellphones. Although the law has been in place for 2 years, 16 people have already died and about 850 injured because of DWT.
Overall, police have issued some 244,000 citations to cell phone law violators. Around 9,000 motor vehicle accidents in Los Angeles could have easily been prevented if people obeyed the law and refrained from texting and/or talking while driving.
While fines ranging from $20 for the first offense and $50 for the second are imposed on errant drivers, CHP Commissioner Joe Farrow says that it is important for drivers to learn when to put down their phones, especially when driving. He said that this kind of distracted driving can cost a driver his life or that of his loved ones.
Distracted driving, like texting and/or talking on the cellphone while operating a vehicle, is the leading cause of most vehicle crashes and near-crashes. A lot of people seem to think that multi-tasking isn’t a big deal and would even do it on the road but in reality, driving is a skill that requires a driver’s full attention.
Once a person starts to text, his/her eyes, hands and mind will be off the road and his/her visual, cognitive, and manual skills will become impaired. Most crashes occur 3 seconds after a distraction so even the mere act of checking a message or picking up a call can put your life or that of your passengers and other motorists in danger.
No text message or phone call is as important as your life or any other person. So the next time you’re out on the road and you hear that familiar ringtone or incoming text message alert, resist the urge to pick up your phone. 3 seconds is all it takes to turn a safe trip to a road disaster.
