State Laws On Mobile Phone Usage While Driving

Using your mobile phone while driving is not only dangerous but it can cause greater damage even to the point of death.  According to a study released by the National Safety Council in January 2010, a staggering 28% of all car accidents in the United States are caused by drivers using cell phones. The vast majority of those crashes, 1.4 million annually, are caused by cell phone conversations, and 200,000 are blamed on text messaging, according to the report from the council, a nonprofit group recognized by congressional charter as a leader on safety in the United States.  Just like protecting signal and ensuring that quality is not lost while transmitting by using a fiber optic cable, law enforcement are now stricter in ensuring that mobile phone usage while driving a car is prohibited and offenders are apprehended to endure that lives are not lost with this mere negligence. 

Majority of U.S. states have restrictions on drivers’ use of handheld electronics.  In Alaska, drivers are prohibited and banned from watching videos and texting.  In California, drivers are allowed to use their mobile phones should they have hands free accessories that come with their mobile phones.  One example of these hands free accessories is the Universal Windshield Mount Holder for Smartphones with 360° Rotation.  This accessory can help the driver to hold their Smartphone securely while talking to someone using a Bluetooth or a headphone that are also hands free.  Imagine the advantage of not having to worry if you will be caught or you will hit another car while using your mobile phone; this is one benefit of using a hands free accessory.

In Georgia, text messaging is banned for all drivers.  They were also particular in this state that all bus drivers are prohibited to using their mobile devices while driving especially when they have passengers.  In Michigan and in some other states, it is prohibited to use mobile phones while driving without the use of hands free devices.  While in some other states texting is prohibited if you’re 18 years old and under, in Missouri they have raised the bar when it comes to age.  Drivers whose age are 21 and under are prohibited from text messaging while driving. 

It’s totally different when you’re in New Mexico and Montana.  There are not limits when it comes to text messaging and cell phone use.  In some states like Utah, no one will be considered an offender by just merely using mobile phone devices while driving unless this is accompanied by violating another law like driving in the wrong lane or running through a red light or other moving violation other than speeding.

There may be a few studies that will prove that using mobile phone accessories will aid in preventing car accidents but it is better that having to use hold you device on your left or right hand while leaving your other hand to do all the work while driving.  Using Bluetooth, Smartphone mount holder or a earphones can definitely help you in focusing more on the road rather than holding the device.