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While many roadways over the U.S. have banned handheld devices while driving for several years, Illinois has followed suit with?a brand new law, signed captured, that can make holding a mobile phone as much as your ear while driving illegal effective January 1.
The new law states that “A person may not operate a automobile on a roadway while using a digital communication device.” This means pay the phone and plug in your hands-free device, or else you stand to pay a stiff penalty.
The intent from the ban would be to reduce accidents due to distracted driving. Based on the U.S. Department of transportation, drivers using hand-held products are 4 times more likely to enter into an accident causing injuries, and distracted driving caused 387,000 injuries and most 3,000 fatalities across the nation in 2011. Illinois joins 11 other states and the District of Columbia in banning the use of hand-held devices while driving.
First-time offenders will get a $75 citation, and also the fines go up to $150 for multiple offenders.
The law includes a number of exceptions, for example:
- A driver utilizing an electronic communication device for the sole reason for reporting an urgent situation situation and continued communication with emergency personnel during the emergency situation.
- A driver utilizing an electronic communication device in hands-free or voice-operated mode, which might range from the utilization of a headset. (Current Illinois law states the cell phone headset must be single sided C i.e. one ear only.)
- A driver using an electronic communication device while parked around the shoulder of a roadway.
- A driver using an electronic communication device when the vehicle is stopped because of normal traffic being obstructed and the vehicle is in neutral or park.
- A driver utilizing an electronic communication device by pressing a single button to initiate or terminate a voice communication.
Dr. Charles Nozicka, medical director of pediatric emergency medicine at Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville, Ill., says, “There are about 5,000 traffic fatalities each year nationally-and about half of those are associated with distracted driving, as the other half are alcohol-related. Which means this law hopefully will assist you to lower these alarming numbers.”
Dr. Nozicka also adds a special warning to oldsters of teenybopper drivers.
“It’s crucial for moms and dads to model good behavior-so that means not trying to make just one phone call or send just one text while driving,” he states. “The strongest component of risk avoidance for distracted driving is parents’ modeled behavior.”
