Text messaging has become a necessity for today's technology driven teens. Their cell phones have become an extension of themselves. From conversations about the hottest movie, to who their best friends are dating; it seems texting has become their number one form of communication. There is one aspect in their lives where cell phones do not belong, and that is while they are operating a motor vehicle. As of July 2008 cell phones are not allowed to be used vocally while driving, unless the person had a hands-free device(with minors being banned from using cell phones altogether).
Starting January 1st 2009 there will be a similar ban on texting while driving(1). This might come as a surprise to many of the drivers on the road, much like the vocal ban in July 2008. Violating this law is punishable by a base fine of $20 for a first offense and $50 for each subsequent offense. With the addition of penalty assessments, fines can be more than triple the base fine amount. A study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety found that motorists who use cellphones while driving are four times more likely to get into crashes serious enough to injure themselves(2). Although this ban might seem like a major inconvenience to the public, it will without a doubt help prevent collisions on the nations roads.
A study by the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society in 2005 found that cell phone distractions result in 2,600 deaths and 330,000 serious injuries every year; in the U.S. alone(3). The study also found that drivers talking on cell phones were 18 percent slower to react to brake lights and took 17 percent longer to get back up to speed each time after they applied their brakes.
Pictures, in addition to the stories of driving and using a cell phone, can be seen by clicking here **Note: no graphic pictures are shown**
A list of all the new DMV laws and regulations effective January 1st 2009 are available by clicking here.
Any questions or comments can be left here, or by e-mailing the editor directly at Peter@bonddrivingschool.com
Citation
(1) http://www.dmv.ca.gov/about/no_text_law.htm
(2) http://www.iii.org/media/hottopics/insurance/cellphones/
(3) http://www.livescience.com/technology/050201_cell_danger.html
Starting January 1st 2009 there will be a similar ban on texting while driving(1). This might come as a surprise to many of the drivers on the road, much like the vocal ban in July 2008. Violating this law is punishable by a base fine of $20 for a first offense and $50 for each subsequent offense. With the addition of penalty assessments, fines can be more than triple the base fine amount. A study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety found that motorists who use cellphones while driving are four times more likely to get into crashes serious enough to injure themselves(2). Although this ban might seem like a major inconvenience to the public, it will without a doubt help prevent collisions on the nations roads.
A study by the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society in 2005 found that cell phone distractions result in 2,600 deaths and 330,000 serious injuries every year; in the U.S. alone(3). The study also found that drivers talking on cell phones were 18 percent slower to react to brake lights and took 17 percent longer to get back up to speed each time after they applied their brakes.
Pictures, in addition to the stories of driving and using a cell phone, can be seen by clicking here **Note: no graphic pictures are shown**
A list of all the new DMV laws and regulations effective January 1st 2009 are available by clicking here.
Any questions or comments can be left here, or by e-mailing the editor directly at Peter@bonddrivingschool.com
Citation
(1) http://www.dmv.ca.gov/about/no_text_law.htm
(2) http://www.iii.org/media/hottopics/insurance/cellphones/
(3) http://www.livescience.com/technology/050201_cell_danger.html
