Yes, it is. If you’re under the age of 18 it is considered unlawful to use a cell phone in any way while operating a motor vehicle. This includes hands-free devices.
School bus drivers are also prohibuted from using a cell phone in any way while driving a school bus.
This law is considered a primary law meaning police can pull you over if they witness that offense.
It is also illegal for anyone of any age to TEXT while driving. However, this is a secondary law, and police have to have another reason to pull you over if they see you texting while driving.
Why is Using a Cell Phone While Driving Such a Big Deal?
In this modern age, it seems as though we are all in a hurry and the more things we can do at once, the faster we can accomplish our goals. Unfortunately, all of this multi-tasking is going to catch up with us at some point. Take for example, reading or answering texts or e-mails while driving. When we think of this we often picture teenage drivers obsessed with their phones, but often it’s the grown-ups too. The adults in the working world who are reading e-mails from work or answering texts about who is responsible for carpool. Does being an adult make it any safer or morally okay? Absolutely not.
According to the CDC, on average 9 people are victims of wrongful death in distracted driving accidents each day. Distracted driving is defined as anything that causes the driver to divert cognitive attention away from the task of driving. This can include visual distractions, mostly in the form of cell phone use; manual distractions, physically taking one’s hands from the wheel; and cognitive distraction, thinking about things other than driving. And bingo, do you see what I see? Texting and driving is especially dangerous because it involves all three categories. Eyes and hands are on the phone, and the brain is thinking about whatever is on that screen, not driving.
It’s truly a “triple threat” to the driver’s safety, the safety of anyone in that vehicle, and anyone unfortunate enough to be sharing the road with someone who texts and drives.
The Thomson Law Firm is accepting distracted driving car accident cases. We will investigate your accident, and if it was caused by distracted driving, we will find out. If you or a loved one was seriously injured in a distracted driving car accident, call today for a FREE consultation. (540) 777-4900. An intake specialist is ready to talk with you and answer your questions. Call today (540) 777-4900.
