How does Washington state law deals with use of cell phones while driving?
Full Question:
Answer:
Generally, talking on a mobile phone while driving cause a driver to be distracted and increases the chance of accidents. Because of this, many state and local governments have made it illegal to use a cell phone while driving.
There is a popular misconception that driving while using a hands-free device is safer than using a hand held cell phone. A study by the Transport Research Laboratory concluded that hands-free phone conversations impair driving performance more than other distractions such as passenger conversations.
The consistency of increased crash risk between hands-free and hand held cell phone use is at odds with legislation that prohibits hand held cell phone use but allows hands-free. In the United States, hands free use of a cell phone while driving is not prohibited in any state. Since dialing buttons on a cell phone is more distracting than talking on a cell phone, hands-free devices that offer voice-dialing may reduce the risk of accidents to a limited extent.
In Washington, all drivers are prohibited from hand held use of cell phone while driving. Young drivers as well as bus drivers are not prohibited from using cellular phone while driving. All drivers are banned from sending or receiving text messages. The nature of enforcement is secondary. Penalty for the offense is a fine of $124 for traffic infraction. The driver gets a traffic ticket.
