Idiot. Jackass. Jerk. Moron. You pick.
That’s you if you’re texting on, looking at or even holding your phone while driving.
Straight up.
We’re getting further away from the days when cell phones didn’t exist. And now we can’t put them down when we’re at a restaurant, in a movie theater or behind the wheel of a car. We survived a millennium without needing to know who called, who texted or who emailed every single moment of the day…annnnnd now we can’t seem to ever be without our phone.
There are some telltale signs that someone is using their phone while driving: they tend to drive slow(er) and/or weave around the lane they’re in or, worse, inch into another lane.
A driver moved in front of me in the fast/left lane and slowed to the point that I was forced to pass him on the right [a whole other blog topic]. I looked over as I went by – to, of course, deliver a nasty look– and he’s TYPING on his phone. Fast lane, interstate highway, driving. Idiot.
Happens. All. The. Time.
Consider this: 3,450 people were killed by distracted driving in 2016.
We’ve all seen the horrifying stories of what can happen in a split second when you look at your phone to read or send a text while driving.
Leave your phone in your pocket or bag. Turn on the phone setting that prevents messages and notifications from coming through while driving (iPhones have this). Or, better yet, just turn your $#%& phone off while driving.
If I see you with phone in hand, expect my horn, and the best dirty look I can muster.
The Law: Fifteen states currently have a handheld cell phone ban — it is illegal to have a phone in your hand while driving. Too bad it’s not all 50. They are:
- California
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Illinois
- Maryland
- Nevada
- New Jersey
- New York
- Oregon
- Rhode Island
- Vermont
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Plus D.C., Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands and Guam
Oh, and for good measure, there’s this gem from Money.com:
“If you just get a ticket for texting while at the wheel, your [car insurance] premiums may increase a little or not at all. Some states don’t allow insurance companies to raise premiums because of tickets for texting. However, if your texting leads to an accident that causes property damage or loss of life, or where criminal charges are filed, your premiums may increase by as much as 23%. [!!!!!]
“As with DUI’s, texting while driving can lead to serious consequences, the least of which is an increase in insurance premiums. It’s best to avoid these consequences by simply not texting and driving.”
Resources/Links:
Check the law in your state
Money.com: Best Auto Insurance
I’m interested to read about your thoughts and experiences. Got a blog post idea? Send it in!
Source: NHTSA Traffic Safety Facts https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/812456
