Restrictions on cell phone use while driving in the United States

Cell phone use is regulated by local ordinance during certain hours in Southside Place, Texas, in Greater Houston

Various laws in the United States regulate the use of mobile phones and other electronics by motorists. Different states take different approaches. Some laws affect only novice drivers or commercial drivers, while some laws affect all drivers. Some laws target handheld devices only, while other laws affect both handheld and handsfree devices.


Regulatory laws

The laws regulating driving (or distracted driving) may be subject to primary enforcement or secondary enforcement by state, county or local authorities.[1] All State-level cell phone use laws in the United States are of the primary enforcement type—meaning an officer may cite a driver for using a hand-held cell phone without any other traffic offense having taken place—except in some cases involving newer (or "novice"), drivers.[2] In the case of secondary enforcement, a police officer may only stop or cite a driver for a cell phone use violation if the driver has committed another primary violation (such as speeding, failure to stop, etc.) at the same time.

Map of laws for cell-phone use and text messaging while driving

A federal transportation funding law passed in July 2012, known as the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21), provided $17.5 million in grants during fiscal year 2013 for states with primary enforcement laws against distracted driving, including laws prohibiting cell phone use while driving. States with secondary enforcement laws or no laws at all are ineligible to receive this grant funding.[3][4]


Laws by state

No state bans all cell phone use for all drivers. However, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia (plus Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands) prohibit all drivers from using hand-held cell phones while driving. Thirty-six states and Washington, D.C. ban all cell phone use by newer drivers, while 19 states and Washington, D.C. prohibit any cell phone use by school bus drivers if children are present.[2]

Cell Phone Restrictions While Driving in the US and Territories[5]
State Total handheld device ban applied to: Any cell phone use by driver prohibited if: Bus driver use restriction(s) Texting & Internet Access Comment
Alabama16 and under, and 17 w/ temporary license or if licensed under six months (primary violation)texting prohibited (primary)[6]
Alaskatotally prohibitedNo restrictions on cell phone use
Arizonatexting prohibited[6]none[6]
Arkansas18–20 years old (primary violation)under 18 (secondary violation)totally prohibitedtexting prohibited (primary)[6]Any cell phone use prohibited in school or construction zones (secondary violation).
CaliforniaAll (primary violation)[7]under 18 (secondary violation)totally prohibited (primary)texting prohibited[6]
Coloradoon learner's permit or under 18 (primary violation)[7]totally prohibited (primary)[6]
ConnecticutAll (primary violation)under 18 (primary violation)totally prohibited
DelawareAll (primary violation)on learner or intermediate license (primary violation)[7]totally prohibited
FloridaCell phone use allowed while operating a car as long as the sound goes through only one ear.[7]
GeorgiaAll Drivers (primary violation)Under 18 (primary violation)Driver totally prohibited unless used for routing communicationDriver totally prohibited, includes videoDriver Allowed to use hands free devices (specific ones) and voice to text with hands free devices and allowed to use permanent mounted GPS, Drivers are allowed to make emergency calls and report hazardous road conditions. Commercial Vehicle Drivers have limited use directly related to their work (GPS or Routing Communication) effective date 1 July 2018.
GuamAll (primary violation)
HawaiiAll (primary violation)[8]under 18 (primary violation)totally prohibitedStatewide law entered into force July 2013; all counties had existing bans on cell phone use. Drivers 18 and older may use hands-free devices.[8]
IdahoNo statewide laws enacted; authorities track "distractions" on accident reports.
IllinoisAll (primary violation)any driver under 19 (primary violation)totally prohibitedAny cell phone use prohibited in school or construction zones or within 500 feet of an emergency scene (primary violation).[9]
Indianaunder 21 (primary violation)
Iowaon restricted or intermediate license (primary violation)totally prohibited (primary) July 1, 2017 updated the texting law to be enforced as a primary reason an officer can stop you. "Texting" is defined as: texting, internet browsing, playing games, and reading social media applications.[10][11]

If proven you were "texting" during a traffic fatality, it is deemed a Class C felony, and you can be put into prison for up to 10 years.[12][11]

Kansason learner or intermediate license (primary violation)
Kentuckyunder 18 (primary violation)totally prohibited
Louisianalearner or intermediate license holder (regardless of age) (primary violation)1st year of license (primary violation if under 18)totally prohibited
Maineunder 18 (primary violation)under 18 w/ learner or provisional license (secondary violation)[7]
Marylandall (primary violation)[13]under 18 w/ restricted learner or intermediate license[7]
Massachusettsunder 18 (primary violation)totally prohibitedCell phone use allowed as long as one hand is on the wheel at all times.[7]
Michiganlevel-1 or level-2 license (primary violation)
Minnesotaunder 18 w/ learner or provisional license (primary violation)[7]totally prohibited
Mississippitotally prohibited
Missouri
Montana
Nebraskaunder 18 w/ learner or intermediate license (secondary violation)
Nevadaall (primary violation)[14]
New Hampshireall (primary violation)totally prohibited# (1st Offense) $100 Fine
  1. (2nd Offense) $250 Fine.
  2. (3rd Offense) $500 Fine, + a 2-year suspension of drivers license.
New Jerseyall (primary violation)[15]on permit or provisional license (primary violation).[7]totally prohibited
New MexicoLocal Option by Jurisdiction[7]on learner or provisional license (primary violation)
New Yorkall (primary violation)[16]
North Carolinaunder 18 (primary violation)totally prohibitedtexting prohibited (Primary) Internet access okay
North Dakotaunder 18 (primary violation)
Ohiounder 18 (primary violation)[17]
Oklahomalearner or intermediate license holder (primary violation)totally prohibited
Oregonall (primary violation)under 18 (primary violation)[7]
Pennsylvania$50 fine for texting while driving.[7]
Puerto Ricoall (primary violation)
Rhode Islandall (primary violation) 06/01/2018under 18 (primary violation)[7]totally prohibited
South CarolinaTotally prohibited, but officers must ascertain that a driver is texting rather than using the phone for another purpose.[18]Authorities can impose fines and track "distractions" on accident reports under Contributing Factors.
South Dakotaon learner or intermediate license (secondary violation)
Tennesseeon learner or intermediate license (primary violation)[7]totally prohibitedtexting prohibited [19]
TexasDriving through school zonesunder 18 (primary violation)totally prohibitedtexting prohibited [20]
Utahunder 18 (primary violation)Regulated under distracted driving laws.[7]
Vermontall (primary violation)under 18 (primary violation) [21]
Virgin Islandsall (primary violation)
Virginiaunder 18 (primary violation)[7]under 18 (secondary violation)[7]totally prohibitedtexting prohibited Use of phone for text or email by the driver whilst vehicle is operational on state roads is prohibited. An exception exists for using GPS, dialing a number to make a call, or reporting an emergency.
Washingtonall (primary violation)[7]on learner or intermediate license (primary violation)Texting prohibited
Washington, D.C.all (primary violation)on learner permit (primary violation)[7]totally prohibited
West Virginiaall (primary violation)under 18 w/ learner or intermediate license (primary violation)
WisconsinDriving through construction zoneson learner or intermediate license (primary violation)
Wyomingon learner or intermediate license (primary violation)[7]

Preemption Laws

Often, local authorities pass their own distracted driving bans—most include the use of cell phones while driving. Several states (Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Oklahoma) have prohibited localities from enacting their own laws regarding cell phone use.[2]

Cost of distracted driving

A 2014 report from the National Safety Council, which compiles data on injuries and fatalities from 2013 and earlier, concluded that use of mobile phones caused 26% of U.S. car accidents.[22] Just 5% of mobile phone-related accidents in the U.S. involved texting: "The majority of the accidents involve drivers distracted while talking on handheld or hands-free cellphones."[22]

The U.S. Department of Transportation has established an official website to combat distracted driving, Distraction.gov.[23]

In 2010, the State Farm insurance company stated that mobile phone use annually resulted in: 636,000 crashes, 330,000 personal injuries, 12,000 major injuries, 2,700 deaths, and $43 billion in damages.[24]

See also

References

  1. ↑ State Laws; G"overnment: Get the Facts;" retrieved April 2013
  2. 1 2 3 Cellphone Laws; GHSA on line; retrieved April 30, 2013
  3. ↑ National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) (August 22, 2012), U.S. Department of Transportation Announces New Federal Grant Program to Help States Fight Distracted Driving, retrieved August 30, 2013
  4. ↑ American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) (August 24, 2012), "States Vie for New Federal Funding to Help End Distracted Driving", AASHTO Journal, retrieved August 30, 2013
  5. ↑ Cell Phone Driving Bans...; PC World; retrieved May 01, 2013
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Cellular Phone Use and Texting While Driving Laws; NCSL online; accessed October 4, 2016
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Let's Talk (May 1, 2013). "Cell Phone Driving Laws by State". Archived from the original on December 26, 2012.
  8. 1 2 Busek, Amy (May 21, 2013), "Law bans driver's use of cellphone", Honolulu Star-Advertiser, retrieved July 22, 2013 (subscription required)
  9. ↑ Cell Phone Laws; Insurance institute for Highway Safety; retrieved April 2013
  10. ↑ https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/publications/LGE/87/SF234.pdf
  11. 1 2 "It's official: Texting while driving in Iowa can get you pulled over — and even land you in prison". Des Moines Register. Retrieved 2017-06-25.
  12. ↑ https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislation/BillBook?ga=87&ba=SF%20444
  13. ↑ New Bill Makes Talking On Handheld Cell Phone While Driving Primary Offense; March 03, 2013 article; CBS Baltimore; retrieved May 01, 2013
  14. ↑ Handheld Cell Phone Ban Archived 2013-05-13 at the Wayback Machine.; Nevada DOT online; retrieved May 01, 2013
  15. ↑ [The New Jersey Driver Manual]
  16. ↑ Cell Phone; NYS: Department of Motor Vehicles on line; retrieved April 2013
  17. ↑ Ticketing begins on state law prohibiting cellphone use by young drivers: Road Rant; February 28, 2013 article; by John Horton; at The Plain Dealer; retrieved April 2013
  18. ↑ http://handsfreeinfo.com/14089-south-carolina-texting/
  19. ↑ http://law.justia.com/codes/tennessee/2010/title-55/chapter-8/55-8-199
  20. ↑ What you need to know about Texas' texting and driving ban; Dallas News accessed September 2017
  21. ↑ Morning Commuters Mostly Stow Cellphones; Burlington Freepress on line; accessed October 2016
  22. 1 2 Gabrielle Kratsas, Cellphone use causes over 1 in 4 car accidents, USA Today (March 28, 2014).
  23. ↑ Distraction.gov, U.S. Department of Transportation.
  24. ↑ Cell Phone Use While Driving; State Farm – Learning Center; retrieved May 01, 2013

Further reading

  • William Saletan (October 23, 2008). "The Mind-BlackBerry Problem: Hey, you! Cell-phone zombie! Get off the road!". slate.com. Retrieved May 1, 2013.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.