Use of Cellular Phone while driving
Full Question:
Answer:
Use of cellular phone while driving is generally not prohibited in Maine. However, all the learner's permit and intermediate license holders are prohibited from using cell phones while driving. The learner's permit and intermediate license holders are also banned from sending or receiving text messages while driving.
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.
Texting is even more distracting because texting causes a driver to take his/her eyes off the road in contrast to talking on the mobile while driving where the driver though distracted need not take his eyes off the road (except when dialling). Text messaging is banned for all drivers in 14 states and the District of Columbia.
