New York – Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced he will introduce new legislation that will crack down on drivers caught using a portable electronic device including blackberrys, iPhones, i-pads, laptop computers, gaming devices and any other portable device, or talking on a cell phone without a hands free device, while driving. The bill would impose unprecedented penalties drivers caught using such a device by adding three points on a driver’s license in order to curb the dramatic rise of this dangerous activity. Governor Cuomo’s legislation would also make driving while using any portable electronic device a primary, rather than just a secondary offense, meaning that drivers can now be stopped solely if they are found to be using such a device while driving.
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“Every day, countless drivers, particularly teenagers and young adults, drive with their eyes on a screen rather than the road,” Governor Cuomo said. “Distracted driving is nothing less than a lethal activity for the driver themselves, other drivers on the road, and pedestrians. Current warnings, educational programs, and driving laws aren’t working. We need to impose a true deterrent to stop people from driving while using an electronic device and to keep our roads and citizens safe.”
Current law makes driving while using a portable electronic device only a secondary offense, which means in order for a person to be ticketed for the offense, the driver must have committed a primary enforcement offense such as speeding, disobeying a traffic signal or other violation. The penalty for a violation of this law is a fine of up to $150.
In addition to increasing the penalty from two to three points, the legislation would also require that distracted driving be included as part of the defensive driving curriculum. Governor Cuomo is working with both houses of the legislature, which have introduced their own legislation cracking down on texting while driving, to see comprehensive legislation passed by the end of this legislative session.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that 16% of fatal accidents in 2009 were due to distracted driving and 20% of people injured during a crash were involved in a crash where distracted driving was reported. A study by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute found that truck drivers who were texting were 23 times more at risk of a crash or near crash, while another study compared reaction times when a driver was texting to when a driver was intoxicated, and found that the reaction time while texting was worse
A National Insurance study estimated 20% of all drivers, and 66% of drivers aged 18 to 24, are sending or receiving text messages while behind the wheel, leaving our young drivers most vulnerable. Several fatal accidents in this state have highlighted this fact including the 2007 accident in which 7 teens were killed in suburban Rochester.
This is good.
All laws like this do is make drivers more distracted – instead of holding their phone up where they can see the road, they will be looking down so the cops don’t notice their devices, making it much more dangerous – this is what studies have shown
A GPS is also called so a portable device??
Great idea! Anyone who thinks that such legislation curbs their freedom shouldn’t be in control of a motor vehicle in the first place!
A factory installed GPS is not a portable electronic device, but my Tom Tom ….
Thank You Gov!!! It has gotten out of hand!!!
I would add to the bill, irrevocable confiscation of the device in use!!!!
Does this apply to Police?
So many times I see them ignore the law instead of setting an example.
I agree with the Governor 100%. This dangerous practice must stop. Enough lives have been lost to this stupidity.
Start with going after the yentas on their cell phones.
Yes please, help me big daddy, I can’t do the responsible thing unless the government makes me do it
They should suspend their driver’s license for six months.
Except when they catch me doing it.
Now that all these laws seem to be setting in nicely day by day, it’s time to go after the police officers who are not only talking on their phone while driving, but doing it while driving thru red-lights. I’m sure each of you have observed at least once in the past officers driving thru a red-light with no emergency lights on at all. I see them doing it every day, like no other car would be on the road, and if I got caught, I’d end up paying $300 and lose 3 points on my license. RIDICULOUS!
This is needed.. Unfortunately people like me as well text sometimes.. Its worse then speaking on the phone. Much worse.. If I know there is a serious penalty involved, I won’t do it.
The article did not say that 2010 was the safest year ever for driving, despite a record number of drivers on phones and texting. We all do it, and we all do it safely. We also change stations on the radio and exceed speed limits. Drivers should be allowed to decide how to drive. Police should sit where drivers can see them and look for the drunk drivers and the truly dangerous drivers.
But it ok to eat, drink, smoke, tune your radio, adjust the digital heat/AC settings, feed the baby and so much more…..
If you think it’s dangerous, then don’t do it