The rising number of accidents caused by using mobile phones while driving plus several studies claiming teenagers as the most distracted drivers paved the way for the state Assembly to garner a 62-5 vote in favor of prohibiting teenagers under 18 to use any cellphones (even hands-free), pagers, and laptop while driving.
Once this legislation is finalized, it will take effect on July 1, 2008 and with $20 penalty for first time violators and $50 for succeeding offenses.
According to Los Angeles Times, distractions while driving claims 17 deaths per day. Moreover, the teenagers represent 6% of licensed drivers but 16% of auto accident fatalities.
"Year after year, car crashes are the No. 1 cause of death among teenagers. The young drivers who are using cellphones, pagers and PDAs while driving are putting not only themselves at risk, but all of us as well," said legislation author Sen. Joe Simitian.
While I agree with this potentially life-saving legislation, I find the punishment too soft to instill a sense of responsibility among teenagers. It says that violations will not be reflected in driving records. All you have to do is pay the fine and go away.
August 29th, 2007 at 2:41 am
I am pleased to hear that legislation will be in place next year July, to prohibit teenagers under the age of 18 to use cellphone while driving.It does not take much to distract them.
The fines are not enough to stop them from continuing to use the phones while driving. Let’s hope that the number of deaths will decrease.
September 4th, 2007 at 1:21 am
Show teenagers a natural life style, keep auto and mobiles away from them.
January 1st, 2008 at 11:44 am
It is stupid to say to the teenager you cannot use the cellphone while driving the car. In Norway everybody gets a nice $100 fine using cellphone while driving.
November 1st, 2010 at 9:08 am
Why just limit to teens? I’ve had just as many near-crashes with older people on cellphones.
“Fatality rates for drivers begin to climb after age 65, according to a recent study by Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh and the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, based on data from 1999-2004. From ages 75 to 84, the rate of about three deaths per 100 million miles driven is equal to the death rate of teenage drivers. For drivers 85 and older, the fatality rate skyrockets to nearly four times higher than that for teens.”
From: http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2007-05-02-older-drivers-usat1a_N.htm
November 1st, 2010 at 9:09 am
Why just limit to teens? I’ve had just as many near-crashes with older people on cellphones.
‘Fatality rates for drivers begin to climb after age 65, according to a recent study by Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh and the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, based on data from 1999-2004. From ages 75 to 84, the rate of about three deaths per 100 million miles driven is equal to the death rate of teenage drivers. For drivers 85 and older, the fatality rate skyrockets to nearly four times higher than that for teens.’
From: http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2007-05-02-older-drivers-usat1a_N.htm
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