California's law against use of handheld cell phones while driving applies when vehicles are stopped at traffic lights, an appeals court has ruled. While the Legislature didn't specifically address use of handheld electronics at stop lights, the First District Court of Appeal ruled Nov. 14 that the statute writers' intent was to include vehicles on public roadways that are paused momentarily to obey traffic laws. The judges cited "significant and numerous public safety hazards that likely would result" if they agreed with the defendant's claim that the distracted driving laws did not apply … [Read more...]
Archives for November 2011
Pennsylvania texting law breakdown
November 9, 2011 by 9 Comments
Specifics of the ban on text messaging that was approved by Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett on Nov. 9, 2011: Prohibits as a primary offense all drivers from using an Interactive Wireless Communication Device (IWCD) to send, read or write a text-based message. Defines an IWCD as a wireless phone, personal digital assistant, smart phone, portable or mobile computer or similar devices that can be used for texting, instant messaging, emailing or browsing the Internet. Defines a text-based message as a text message, instant message, email or other written communication composed or received on an … [Read more...]
Despite the danger, we’re still talking
November 4, 2011 by 1 Comment
U.S. drivers recognize talking & texting as dangerous activities, but many continue to drive distracted anyway -- even in high-risk traffic situations. Nothing new there, but several recent surveys shed more light on the problem. Results of five recent surveys regarding cell phone and texting use are consistent with attitudinal studies conducted over the past 10 years. The latest numbers strongly suggest that widespread distracted driving educational efforts still have a lot of work left to do. A Roper poll of U.S. adults shows, in fact, that the higher the overall education level, the more … [Read more...]
Pennsylvania bans texting & driving
November 1, 2011 by 3 Comments
Pennsylvania drivers will no longer be able to text message as of early March. Gov. Tom Corbett signed off on legislation Nov. 9 that bans texting while behind the wheel. Fines will be $50. Enforcement is primary, which allows police to pull over drivers for that infraction alone. "No text message is worth a human life," Corbett said during the bill-signing event. "The message of this legislation is drive now and text later." (This content first posted on Nov. 1 and updated on Nov. 9.) Pennsylvania has become the 35th state to outlaw texting while behind the wheel. The state's long-running … [Read more...]
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