Distracted driving in California
In 2008, California motorists were prohibited from talking on hand-held cellular phones while driving. A ban on texting while driving followed in 2009. Studies since then have shown that even hands-free technology can be a significant distraction. ‘Simply put, hands-free does not mean risk-free,’ says one researcher from the AAA Foundation.
Russ Martin of AAA is hooked to an EEG-configured skull cap during a demonstration in support of their study on distracted driving. (Manuel Balce Ceneta / Associated Press)
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Hands-free phone use while driving — for talking or, especially, for texting — is just plain dangerous, said researchers at the University of Utah who have studied distracted driving for more than a decade.
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Verizon Wireless, Sprint and T-Mobile join AT&T’s ‘It Can Wait’ effort, urging drivers to refrain from texting when behind the wheel.
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Steven Spriggs, who maintains that he was driving safely at the time, isn’t taking ‘convicted’ for an answer. Urged on by supporters, he has filed another appeal.
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If you think your smartphone’s fancy voice recognition software lets you text safely while you are driving, think again.
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In a new poll just released by Bridgestone Americas, 50% of young drivers admitted to talking on their phones without a hands-free device.
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Look around you the next time you’re on the road.
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It’s been only 11 weeks since an exception allowing hands-free texting while driving took effect in California, but some lawmakers are giving it a thumbs down and want the change repealed.
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There are already a number of laws on the books in various states designed to thwart so-called distracted driving and teens and texting.
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You don’t mean to text and drive.
