Federal Laws Pertaining To Distracted Driving In USA

If you get distracted during a movie, you can easily hit rewind and catch up on the time lost, but the rules of the road are a little different. You can’t hit pause or rewind; the decisions you make and the actions you take on the road are irreversible.

In the US alone, each day, around 9 lives are lost and more than 1000 people are injured as a result of distracted driving. Road decisions are time bound. The decision is in your hand. You can either read a text or pay attention to the car ahead of you.

Keep reading to know what the Law says about distracted driving.

What is distracted driving?

Anything thing that diverts your attention from the road is considered a distraction. Generally,

distraction can be classified into three major categories:

- Visual distractions include any activity that involves taking your eyes off the road, such as, reading a text.

- Manual distractions are activity that causes you to take your hands off the wheel like, drinking coffee.

- Cognitive distractions divert your attention and concentration from the road like, when your mind is distracted with work problems, you can’t focus on the road.

Texting while driving

Although no state has completely banned cell phone use, but many states have recognized the safety hazards mobile use can cause on the road.

46 states, including the US Virgin Island, Puerto Rico, and DC have completely banned texting while driving. The states that are missing this ban, have enforced a strict policy that prohibits new drivers and bus drivers from texting.

In Arizona, hand held devices are completely banned for school bus drivers (under primary law) and novice drivers (under secondary law). They also have strict no-texting while driving rule for permit holders under the age of 18.

Primary and secondary law

Distractions have consequences. The fine or penalty for driving violation will differ because of the type of law that instate a driving prohibition. If you break a primary law, a traffic officer can pull you over and give you ticket, without the occurrence of any other traffic violation. Whereas, under a secondary law, an officer can only give you ticket, only if another traffic violation (like, speeding) is caused by your offense (like, texting).

NHTSA at work

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration plays a major role in making roads safer for drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists. They are trying to limit the distractions on road by running awareness campaigns and publishing fatalities data for the public to see.

NHTSA is also working with auto makers to disable some distracting features of car’s infotainment systems. They have proposed the auto manufacturers to, reduce the amount of text displayed on the screen, disable browsing and social media platforms, when the car is in motion, and limit video display.

NHTSA wants to reduce distraction-causing elements in and outside cars and is working with car and cell phone manufactures to bring necessary changes to their products.

Make roads safe for yourself and others; visit a driving school that provide state-approved defensive driving classes. Jacob’s Driving School provides best driving instructors and comprehensive classes to the people of Arizona. Call (602) 297-1000 to book a lesson now.