NEW LAW ALLOWS HANDS-FREE
TEXTING IN CALIFORNIA – WHILE DRIVING!
It sounds like the California
Legislature has caved as they have passed a new law that allows hands-free
texting while driving in California.
Beginning January 1, 2013, it will be LEGAL to TEXT while you drive –AS
LONG AS YOU DON’T TOUCH YOUR PHONE.
That’s right. Governor Jerry Brown signed a bill that will
allow California drivers to TEXT while driving as long as they are using
“hands-free” technology. And when they
say “hands-free” they mean “hands-free.”
Although the new law sounds like it is backpeddling, under the new law
you will not be able to touch your phone to text.
Doing so would be a violation of the law and
would still warrant a ticket.
So for all you iPhone users
out there…. It’s time to lobby Apple to start making deals with auto-makers out
there to make Apple software compatible with your vehicles. Same with Google
and its Androids. Because just the act
of turning on your phone or pushing any of its buttons while driving is enough
to still get you a citation. Siri cannot
help you here. iPhones require that you
push the Siri button to activate the capabilities. Androids require pushing a
Google App. Same with other phones. However, if your phone can be controlled from
your steering wheel or voice alone, then you’re in luck.
But is this a good
thing? Matt Kaminsky, president and CEO
of BESTtrafficschool.com, doesn’t think so.
Kaminsky:
“Anything that takes your
attention away from the road is dangerous.
Physical distractions, such as pushing buttons and turning knobs, are
only one type of distraction. Mental
distractions are just as dangerous.
Texting, emailing, posting to facebook – all these things take mental focus,
even if verbalized. My fear is that by
giving drivers these capabilities, we’re encouraging them to use them even
more, and increasing the dangers rather than diminishing them.”
In an attempt to sell more
vehicles, auto-makers are trying to load new cars with as many bells and
whistles as possible, such as hands-free commands for auto functions. It’s no wonder that the bill, AB 1536, also
known as the “Freedom to Communicate” act, was sponsored by the auto industry.
Really? Do we really need more freedom to communicate
in our vehicles? Have our freedoms truly
been compromised by restricting texting while driving? According to the National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration, in 2009, 5,474 people were killed in the U.S. and an
estimated 448,000 were injured in motor vehicles that were reported to have
involved distracted driving.
With numbers like – go ahead
and restrict my “freedoms.”
What do you think?
I didn't know that California made a new law about texting and driving. It's always been my understanding that you could get ticketed for any kind texting and driving, including texting hands free, but it seems like my assumption was wrong. It sounds like the people who passed the law were following the same thought process behind the law that allows people to talk on their cell phones, as long as it's hands frees, just like the new texting law. Although, hands free texting is something that's now legal, I think that we should still be teaching our young teenage drivers during their driving school courses to not use their phones while they're driving. It can still be dangerous for young drivers to be driving distracted, like you've pointed out.
ReplyDeleteSophie Green | http://www.aaapds.net/