Know The Cell Phone Driving Laws In Your State

Cell phone driving laws have been established for good reason: Distracted driving is a major issue, causing many crashes and thousands of fatalities per year.

One of the best ways you can stay safe while driving your vehicle and avoid the need to call for a tow is by obeying the cell phone driving laws in your state.

But what are they?

Dangers of Cell Phone Distractions

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 660,000 drivers are using their cell phones while driving at any given moment in America.

Cell phone use is not the only way a driver can become distracted, either, but texting in particular could be the most dangerous activity of all. Texting involves manual, visual and mental distractions from the task at hand, while talking on a phone only handicaps manual and cognitive attention.

It’s for this reason that many states have passed laws to limit driver cell phone use — it’s a risky practice that leads to accidents and loss of life. In 2013 alone, 3,154 people were killed in distracted driving crashes.  

Using a Handheld Device

Some of the first cell phone driving laws to pass involved talking on the phone while driving and holding the cell phone up to your ear. States that have banned this practice include California, Connecticut, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Oregon and Washington. Using a handheld device while driving is also illegal in Washington, D.C. 

Juvenile Offenses

Most states have passed legislation specifically addressing novice drivers, or those under age 18. In 29 states and Washington, D.C., drivers who only have a learner’s permit or are younger than 18 are not allowed to talk or text with handheld or hands-free devices. Many of these same states extend the same rules to school bus drivers.

Texting

Texting while driving is illegal in 29 states and the District of Columbia — including Utah — and traffic cops are allowed to pull over drivers who are texting based on that violation alone.

What Does Your Town Say?

If your state doesn’t have any phone use laws, that does not mean you’re free to make calls and send texts at your leisure. Besides the fact that you’d be putting yourself, your passengers and other motorists at risk, you also could be in violation of one of the local municipality’s laws.

Even if it’s not a statewide mandate, many towns have taken the initiative to ban talking on the phone and texting while driving, so it’s best to avoid the activity altogether while you’re behind the wheel.

If you’re involved in any type of distracted driving crash, whether or not you’re at fault, call Stauffer’s Towing and we will dispatch a tow truck driver to help you right away.

Not all crashes can be prevented with cell phone driving laws, and that’s why Stauffer’s Towing is standing by waiting to help you if you ever get into an accident.