Several states recently enacted laws surrounding the use of cellphones while driving, and the list continues to grow as Pennsylvania may be the newest state to ban hand-held cellphone use by drivers.
According to the Allentown Morning Call, State Rep. Rosemary Brown filed a bill earlier this year to ban hand-held use of cellphones while driving. The bill recently received approval from the House Transportation Committee and will soon visit the full House floor.
The primary goal of the bill is to reduce distractions for drivers. But the bill’s advocates also hope that it will reduce the use of cellphones while driving altogether.
How to stay connected without being distracted
The new bans focus specifically on using “hand-held” cellphones, which means they do not want drivers to text, scroll or talk with phones in their hands while driving. Luckily, drivers still may use hands-free devices to continue calls or other communication. Some helpful tools are:
- A phone mount – Allows you to see our screen without touching the phone. Also, it’s a great set up if you use google maps or another app to help with navigation.
- A Bluetooth hands-free phone system – Most cars now come with Bluetooth systems that feed your phone through your car stereo. You won’t have to worry about listening to the radio or missing any calls.
- A USB or aux cord – If you use your phone for music, you should already know to have an aux cord or USB car charger to feed music through the stereo. To keep it hands-free, create a playlist before driving and keep it on your playlist until you hit your destination.
- The “Do Not Disturb” option – Almost every phone offers a “do not disturb” or silent option. Make sure to use this to prevent yourself from checking your phone when it starts to ring or buzzes.
These tools make it is easy for new drivers to stay hands-free and make important calls if needed. Also, the bill allows drivers to make emergency calls, so drivers won’t need to worry about calling the police if they witness an accident or are involved in a crash.
Hopefully, the bill will decrease distracted driving – and the possibility of more accidents on Pennsylvania roads. It probably won’t eliminate accidents, so drivers should still know what to do in an emergency and keep their phone with them.
WARNING: THIS IS A GENERAL DISCUSSION OF LAW AND IS NOT INTENDED TO BE LEGAL ADVICE. FOR ANY LEGAL QUESTIONS PLEASE CONTACT OUR OFFICE AND SPEAK TO AN ATTORNEY.
