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Distracted Driving, Talking & Texting |  |
Introduction | Programs & Solutions | FAQs | Safety Tips |
See the "NO PHONE ZONE" Campaign and a Distracted Driving Commercial at http://www.distraction.gov.
Effective January 26, 2010, the federal government has banned texting when driving by commercial drivers. Read the US Department of Transportation announcement on the ban at http://www.dot.gov/affairs/2010/dot1410.htm.
New York lawmakers passed a bill that prohibits all drivers from using portable electronic devices that took effect on November 1, 2009.
The law prohibits all drivers from using portable electronic devices, such as cell phones and smart phones, to send text messages or e-mails while driving. The penalty for a violation of this law shall be a fine of up to $150. It is a secondary law, which means in order for a person to be ticketed for the offense, the driver must have committed a primary enforcement offense such as speeding, disobeying a traffic signal or other violation. This law will replace laws passed by other jurisdictions in NYS.
According to Merriam Webster, to DISTRACT is "to draw or direct (as one's attention) to a different object or in different directions at the same time." Any time a driver's attention is drawn away from the task of driving in a safe and defensive manner can be labeled as distracted driving. These distractions can be personal, external or internal.
Personal distractions are those where a driver may not be physically or mentally able to focus on the fundamentals of driving due to disabilities or destructive decisions.
External distractions are those which occur outside the car. These external distractions can be caused by the actions of other motorists, inclement weather, deteriorated road conditions, or even the scenery.
Internal distractions are those inside the car. They can be caused by a passenger, possessions or unsafe practices. A distracted driver is one who is involved with any other activity while at the same time as driving. Some common distracted actions are reading, writing, shaving, applying makeup or using electronic devices such as computers, cell phones, iPods or GPS navigation systems.
When these distractions occur behind the wheel of a motor vehicle the consequences can be far reaching or even deadly.
According to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in a report created in April 2006 entitled, The Impact of Driver Inattention On Near-Crash/Crash Risk: An Analysis Using the 100-Car Naturalistic Driving Study Data, driver inattention was defined for this report as one of the following:
This study also listed "Driver Inattention" as the primary contributing factor to crashes and near crashes. Almost 80% of crashes and 65% of near crashes in this study involved the driver looking away from the forward roadway just prior to the conflict.
Of late, the most frequent form of distraction while driving has been due to cell phone use and texting.
It was in a two-day summit on distracted driving in Washington D.C. in which DOT Secretary, Ray LaHood, referred to Distracted Driving as an "epidemic."
To combat this "epidemic" in New York State, the Governor's Traffic Safety Committee would like to draw your attention to the new law which took effect on November 1, 2009 and the following information.
ATTENTION: All Commercial Motor Vehicle Drivers: Please note the Federal Ban on Texting for Commercial Truck and Bus Drivers which was announced by the U.S. Transportation Secretary, Ray LaHood. The ban is on the use cell phones to text while driving a commercial vehicle. The prohibition, which took effect on January 26, 2010, is the first step towards the safety of commercial drivers and motorists who share the road with them. Those truck and bus drivers who are convicted of texting while driving commercial vehicles may be subject to civil or criminal penalties of up to $2,750. The regulatory guidance on the texting ban for commercial truck and bus drivers is on public display in the Federal Register and available in printed form in the Federal Register. The public can follow the progress of the U.S. Department of Transportation in working to combat distracted driving and a distracted driving commercial at www.distraction.gov. |
NEW YORK STATE'S CELLULAR PHONE LAW
Use of a hand-held cellular telephone to engage in a call while driving is prohibited in New York State, pursuant to Vehicle and Traffic Law Section 1225c. This law became effective December 1, 2001 violators may be issued a ticket for a traffic infraction, resulting in a fine of up to $100.
Exceptions:
Please remember that 911 is for emergencies only.
Dialing 911 is a free call for cellular subscribers. Police and EMS officials say that in many cases response times have been cut, criminals have been apprehended and lives have been saved due to calls from cellular phone users.
SOME TIPS FOR SAFE CELLULAR PHONE USE
(These tips for safe cellular phone use were provided by the Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association)
USE COMMON SENSE
Any task a driver performs while driving is a potential distraction. It is best to use your cellular phone when you are stopped, but if you must use your phone while driving it is important to check traffic conditions before placing a phone call or performing any task, and if necessary, wait until conditions improve to make your call. Learn how your cellular phone operates while parked. If possible, dial while the car is not in motion. Program frequently used numbers into your phone. If a number is not programmed into memory, dial in short segments, check the traffic, and dial another segment. Never allow your conversation to distract you from driving. Keep calls brief. Keep your eyes on the road, and frequently check the side and rear view mirrors.
