Another State Bans Cell Phone Use While Driving
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Some time ago I posted the states that ban cell phone use while driving. well, you can add Washington to that list beginning Tuesday, July 1, 2008. The law takes effect at midnight and outlaws cell phone use without a hands free device while driving. There are a few exceptions to the law, which include people operating an emergency vehicle, reporting illegal activity, calling for emergency help and people using a hearing aid. It is a “Secondary” offense, which means you cannot be pulled over simply for being observed using your phone while driving. You have to be pulled over for a “Primary” offense, like speeding. How long before it becomes a primary offense though? Seat belt use was originally a secondary offense and has now become primary in most states.
I have mixed feelings about this type of ban. I mean, sure, it might make the roads a little safer, but it’s the conversation itself that distracts a person, not the fact that they are holding the device to their ear. There are other things that distract drivers as well. Why not outlaw eating while driving, or smoking, or any number of things that people do while driving? Banning cell phone use without a hands free device is just a frivolous law which will allow cities to make more money from its citizens.
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3 Comments
OmniDragon
June 29th, 2008
at 2:12pm
I’m glad they’re moving on this. Not allowing people to talk on their phones while driving is a good thing, in my opinion. While you’re at it, make sure you ban texting while driving. Hard to believe for a person like me, but people actually text people from a mobile device while operating a moving vehicle. This is a BAD THING! And it should be outlawed. It’s things like that that spawned portable dvd players in the FRONT seats of cars. Watching a movie while driving? Oh, that’s brilliant. Hey people, hands on wheel….eyes on road…..mmmkay?
teddgcm
June 29th, 2008
at 2:20pm
A ban on texting while driving is in effect in Washington, and many other states. has been for a while now. Most states also ban DVD players in the front seat area as well. I was on the road one day with my then 7 year old nephew, came up behind a car and he had a dvd player under the rear view mirror. That’s not something I was worried about, it was what he was watching that shocked me. A hard corps XXX movie. I called the police and they promptly pulled him over and , I hope, gave him a ticket at least. When i got home I had to explain to my nephew what those people on the screen were doing.
Mike
June 30th, 2008
at 7:54am
About time…ALL states need to enact the same thing. I’m sick of these apathetic, inattentive and aggressive drivers on phones infecting these roads where I live. Yes, if you’ve ever driven in the DC metro area try it out…You will have a tailgating, impatient driver on your butt for most of your trips in the car AND many (from my observations) are on the phone completely oblivious of the safety issues they are creating.
You bring up a good point about other activities but let’s face it…even eating while driving does NOT have the same distracting effect as talking on phones and texting. I can grab a sandwich while at a light and take a couple bites and set it down without ever taking my eyes off the road and eating certainly cannot be compared to talking on the phone. Otherwise, none of us could chew gum and walk either. Same goes for music (aside from playing it too loudly). Listening to music is more background and passive than actively talking on the phone although I’m sure some experts would counter this too.
Fact is, talking on the phone is proven to be problematic and has serious consequences in terms of accidents. I doubt all other passive activities combined have had the same results.
The safer the roads the better for all us in terms of safety and insurance costs…even if people want to discount the loss of life/limb cost,who objects to less insurance costs when there are less accidents?
To those who drive aggressively, wake your butts up earlier if you are in such a rush and save us all the aggravation of your existence…
Peace..