A ban on hand-held cell phone use while driving is headed to Governor Landry’s desk. This, after the House gave its final approval on a vote of 94-1, with Oil City Republican Danny McCormick casting the lone “no” vote. Don Redman with the American Automobile Association (AAA) of Louisiana says this is something that the auto club has been pushing for for years. He says making phone calls has practically become a secondary use of cell phones while in vehicles.
“It falls behind streaming movies, facetiming, posts to social media, videoing, attended conference calls, shopping,” Redman said.
Redman says cell phone use while driving has become a major problem – not just in Louisiana, but everywhere.
“We’re doing so much more with our phones now. That explains why 24% of our fatal crashes in Louisiana are caused by a distracted driver. That cell phone has become a huge distraction,” Redman said.
It’s important to note that being caught handling a cell phone while driving will be a secondary offense, meaning that an officer will not pull you over for that offense alone. But if he notices a driver handling a cell phone while committing another moving violation, such as speeding or running a red light, that would be an additional fine. Redman says it’s definitely a step in the right direction.
“We’re constantly battling technology, because there’s so many shiny objects that distract that driver, and absolutely that is a big concern,” Redman said.
There will be a getting-used-to period before officers start issuing fines after the first of the year.
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