Texting While Driving
In late September, Maine passed a law that bans texting while driving. This means that the driver of a vehicle will not be able to use their cell phone for text communication (text messages, email) while they are behind the wheel. The reason for this new law is to improve traffic safety - texting while driving has been cited by Maine State Troopers as being a preventable cause of accidents and distracted driving.
“Texting” has become one of the largest uses of cell phones in the last few years, especially among the younger population. Beyond the physical distractions of texting, the instant nature of responding to or writing a text message can take away from the alertness of a driver. One of the most popular figures that came out earlier this year cited that texting while driving makes the driver 23 more times likely to be involved in an accident.
The imposed fine will be $100 and will be heavily enforced, according to the police teams. Subsequent violations could result in increased fines and penalties. Signals that a driver is texting while driving include:
• Head bobbing
• Swerving
• Delayed reaction to traffic signals
• Eye gaze looking down
• Body position
Similarly, if you receive a text message and are trying to read it while you are driving, you could be fined for it. All of these efforts are designed to remove distractions that drivers in Maine are facing. With the popularity of cell phones, particularly smart phones, it is getting easier for drivers to think they can just quickly check. All digital devices fall under the umbrella of this law - iPads, Blackberries, Kindles, etc.
Lawyers have often said that this law will be hard to prosecute because it will be very hard to prove that someone was texting while driving. Time will tell how these cases stand up in court.
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