California Bans Teens from Cellphones While Driving

[TravisAtreo]

A bill may soon pass for California teenagers that may get their blood boiling...

Governor Schwarzenegger may sign the papers to make sure teens are banned from operation any type of mobile device while driving. The bill states, "walkie-talkies, pagers, two-way messaging devices, PDAs, and laptops" will all be against the law to operate if you are under the age of 18.

There have been many different tragedies that have occurred from drivers who have been distracted on the road, having a conversation with a friend or family member. California is not the only state to crack down on driving distractions by cellular activity. A few months ago the state of Washington passed a law making all drivers use hands-free headsets during their drive, however being caught with a phone connected to your ear while driving is only a second offense. If violators are caught in California however, the fine starts at "$20 for the first offense, and $50 for subsequent offenses with no violation points on the driver's record."

So if I might impose a question, is it only teens that run the risk of a serious accident while being distracted? Or could it be all of us? If this bill does pass, we definitely will see the outcomes.


[via Engadget]

[youngalfred]

in queensland, australia all mobile phone use while driving is banned. Not just for teenagers, but everyone. In fact, our new provisional driving laws ban a mobile phone being turned on while in the car! And you cant have a screen within view of the driver, so that rules out laptop, pdas, and incar entertainment systems playing while driving. You can however have gps's???? (bit contradictory).