New Distracted Driving Bill to Take Effect July 1

Merely pushing a button on a device to activate/answer it while it is in a dock should not be considered a violation.

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(Versailles, Ind.) -  On July 1, 2020, a new law will take effect in Indiana that prohibits the operator of a motor vehicle from holding or operating cell phones or other similar electronic devices while the vehicle is in motion.

HEA 1070 states that “a person may not HOLD or USE a telecommunications device while operating a motor vehicle.” This law applies to wireless phones, personal digital assistants, pagers, or other text messaging devices.

Exceptions:

1) Telecommunication devices may be used in conjunction with hands-free or voice-operated technology.

2) Telecommunication devices may be used or held to call 9-1-1 to report an emergency.

3) Amateur radio equipment may be operated by a licensed amateur radio operator.

4) Communications equipment (CB radio) may be operated in commercial motor vehicles weighing more than 10,000 lbs.

Merely pushing a button on a device to activate/answer it while it is in a dock should not be considered a violation.

Driver inattention is a factor in more than 1.6 million crashes in North America annually, resulting in serious injuries, deaths, and an economic impact that some experts say reaches nearly $400 Billion per year. Sending or reading a text takes your eyes off the road for approximately 5 seconds. At 55 mph, that is like driving the length of an entire football field with your eyes closed.

The use of a cell phone while driving increases your chance of getting into a crash by 400%. In other states with a similar law already in effect, there has been a 15% decrease in the number of traffic fatalities. If the same stats hold true for Indiana, this law could save approximately 130 lives on Indiana roadways each year.

Suggestions:

1) The preference is do not use your phone when you drive.

2) Use the vehicle manufacturer installed hands-free system.

3) Place the device in a vehicle mount.

4) Utilize an aftermarket bluetooth device to connect the device to your vehicle.

5) Utilize an auxiliary cable.

6) Utilize a cassette adaptor for older vehicles.

7) Utilize a single earphone equipped with a microphone.