Cell phoning while driving is the best-known behavior categorized as distracted driving, but there are countless other dangerous things people routinely do behind the wheel. The National Safety Council's International Symposium on Distracted Driving, Oct. 14-17 in Arlington, Va., examines the problem with participants from the fields of transportation and safety, the auto business, science and government, among others. "Distracted driving contributes to hundreds of thousands of injuries and deaths each year," said Janet Froetscher, NSC's president and CEO. "People who drive while talking on … [Read more...]
South Carolina: Cell phone laws, legislation
September 9, 2008 by 11 Comments
Cell phone, texting news: State Rep. Bill Taylor has been pushing for a hands-free law since at least 2017. He's back with House Bill 3276, the vehicle of choice for hands-free advocates in 2025. It cleared the House in mid-April and has been sent to the Senate. The state texting & driving law took effect in December 2014. It applies to all drivers and comes with a $25 fine for first-time violators. The law does not affect use of cell phones for making calls. Drivers are able to use the GPS functions of their hand-held devices. Police are able to stop and cite offenders on sight, but … [Read more...]
Text-messaging ban passes Calif. Senate
August 22, 2008 by 1 Comment
The architect of California's ban on drivers' use of hand-held cell phones has made good on his promise to encore with a state ban on text messaging while operating a motor vehicle. Sen. Joe Simitian, D.-Palo Alto, saw his SB 28 pass the California state Senate by a 25-14 margin, almost entirely without Republican support. Update: Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed the text-messaging driving ban into law on Sept. 24, 2008. Schwarzenegger, a Republican, indicated previously that he'd be supportive of taking action to prevent drivers from tapping out messages on cell phones and other portable … [Read more...]
iPhones and driving: Caution in order
July 27, 2008 by 1 Comment
The iPhone 3G does a lot of amazing things, but voice dialing isn't one of them. This means that drivers have to somehow use the virtual keyboard to dial out, a dubious proposition safety-wise. What makes dialing extra tricky is the iPhone's lack of raised buttons, which help the tactile figure out where the number keys are located. This hitch gives both iPhones safety issues beyond the usual driving-while-talking problems. Most decent cell phones have voice dialing. The iPhone, curiously, does not. Ooops. And these guys live in California! "(Lack of) voice dialing is a serious … [Read more...]
North Carolina: Cell phone laws, legislation
July 7, 2008 by 29 Comments
Cell phone, texting legislation news: Rep. Frank Iler says drivers' attention to their pets presents a danger on state roadways. He's filed House Bill 394, which would clamp down on the distractions of having animals being held or sitting in the driver's lap. Fines at $100 plus costs. State voters overwhelming support a ban on holding of electronic devices by drivers, polling suggests. A Meredith College poll of almost 700 voters found that more than 80 percent supported the ban. The results were about the same as when the question was asked about distracted driving in 2018. "Citizens see … [Read more...]
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