Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/23783
SMART DRIVING MAX KVIDERA Distracted Driving A state-by-state guide to laws targeting cell-phone use while driving ALABAMA bans texting and cell phone use only for novice drivers 16 or 17. ALASKA bans texting by all drivers. ARIZONA bans cell phone use only by school bus drivers. ARKANSAS bans texting by all drivers and cell phone use by bus drivers and drivers under age 18. CALIFORNIA is one of eight states to impose a ban on handheld devices on all drivers. In 2008, almost 20 percent of all crashes involved some type of distraction, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Those accidents claimed more than 5,800 lives and injured about 515,000 people. COLORADO bans texting by all drivers. CONNECTICUT prohibits handheld use by all drivers. DELAWARE bans handheld use by all drivers. DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA bans all handhelds for all drivers. FLORIDA law prohibits local jurisdictions from enacting distracted driving bans. GEORGIA bans texting by all drivers. HAWAII imposes no distracted driving bans. ILLINOIS prohibits texting by all drivers and cell phone use while driving in a school zone or highway construction zone. INDIANA bans cell phone use and texting only by drivers under age 18. IOWA bans texting by all drivers — as a secondary offense. KANSAS bans texting by all drivers. KENTUCKY bans texting by all drivers. 28 TRUCKERS NEWS JANUARY 2011 LOUISIANA prohibits texting by all drivers. MAINE prohibits driving while distracted in the state. MARYLAND bans texting by all drivers. MASSACHUSETTS bans texting by all drivers. MICHIGAN bans texting by all drivers. MINNESOTA prohibits texting by all drivers. MISSISSIPPI bans texting by novice drivers and prohibits local jurisdictions from enacting distracted driving bans. MISSOURI prohibits texting only by drivers 21 and under. Using any type of cell phone while driving delays a driver’s reactions the same as having a blood alcohol level of 0.08 percent, according to researchers at the University of Utah. MONTANA imposes no bans on distracted driving. NEBRASKA bans texting by all drivers. NEVADA has no bans and prohibits local governments from enacting distracted driving bans. NEW HAMPSHIRE bans texting by all drivers as apart of In Utah a driver caught texting faces a misdemeanor charge of up to three months in jail and a maximum $750 fine. If their action causes injury or death, the charge could become a felony with a maximum $10,000 fine and 15 years in prison.