July 1, 2008 was California’s first day of battling cell phone use while driving.
On that day, two major laws became effective. First, drivers have been required to use hands-free devices while behind the wheel and second, drivers under the age of 18 have been prohibited to use any device, hands-free or not.
As far as text messaging is concerned, effective January 1, 2009, all drivers have been prohibited to send messages while behind the wheel. Otherwise, violators would be fined.
With the implementation of such laws, drivers who have been using cell phones have dramatically decreased. According to a survey, sixty four percent of motorists no longer use their cell phone while driving.
This only meant that California’s battle against cell phone use while driving has been successful. In fact, California has the greater reduction compared to other states such as Washington D.C. and New York.
California is serious in its goal of decreasing vehicle accidents caused by cell phone use. By December 2008, California Highway Patrol handed more than 50,000 citations for cell phone law violations.
However, the main goal has yet to be achieved. Cell phone law had been implemented to reduce cases of accidents primarily due to cell phone use. Decrease in numbers of drivers using cell phone does not equate to decrease in numbers of road related accident.
We have yet to see the outcome. At least for cell phone related accident, we can say that the implementation of cell phone law has been successful. Let us just cross our fingers and hope for the best.
On that day, two major laws became effective. First, drivers have been required to use hands-free devices while behind the wheel and second, drivers under the age of 18 have been prohibited to use any device, hands-free or not.
As far as text messaging is concerned, effective January 1, 2009, all drivers have been prohibited to send messages while behind the wheel. Otherwise, violators would be fined.
With the implementation of such laws, drivers who have been using cell phones have dramatically decreased. According to a survey, sixty four percent of motorists no longer use their cell phone while driving.
This only meant that California’s battle against cell phone use while driving has been successful. In fact, California has the greater reduction compared to other states such as Washington D.C. and New York.
California is serious in its goal of decreasing vehicle accidents caused by cell phone use. By December 2008, California Highway Patrol handed more than 50,000 citations for cell phone law violations.
However, the main goal has yet to be achieved. Cell phone law had been implemented to reduce cases of accidents primarily due to cell phone use. Decrease in numbers of drivers using cell phone does not equate to decrease in numbers of road related accident.
We have yet to see the outcome. At least for cell phone related accident, we can say that the implementation of cell phone law has been successful. Let us just cross our fingers and hope for the best.
