On July 1, 2008, California will institute a new hands-free cell phone law. Drivers over the age of 18 may still use a cell phone with a hands-free head set. Drivers under the age of 18 will not be allowed to use a cell phone at all while driving.

If caught using a cell phone while driving, the first offense will be a $20 fine. Every citation afterwards will be $50. There is not a grace period.

The use of cell phones while driving has been the number one cause of driver distraction in the state of California for the past six years according to the California Highway Patrol.

The Senator who instituted the bill believes that the use of hands-free devices will help to save between 300 and 900 lives every year. Despite the belief that hands-free devices will help to prevent injuries and fatalities, studies continue to indicate that the use of cell phones, whether hands-free or hand-held, is a significant driver distraction.

Overall, the bill is intended to prevent and decrease the amount car wrecks and the resulting injuries and fatalities. Car wreck attorneys are working on cases in which serious injury and fatality has resulted from driver distraction and neglect.

A new bill that is pending in the Florida State Legislature will ban the use of cell phones while driving among minors.

The purpose of the bill is to attempt to reduce the amount of car wrecks in Florida. Many studies have proven that the use of cell phones while driving is as dangerous as driving while under the influence of alcohol. They have also shown that car wrecks can result from talking on both hand-held and hands-free devices.

The bill is set to take effect on October 1, 2008.

The bill prohibits the use of any wireless communications device while driving by anyone under the age of 18. Any violations can result in a traffic ticket.

The bill does not extend to adults.

Car wreck attorneys are working on cases that wherein serious injury occurred during a car wreck caused by driver distraction due to cell phones.

          My husband is constantly complaining about people using their cell phone while driving.  Just the other day, he told me that he had made it a point to watch as he was driving in town to see if other drivers were using cell phones.   Nearly every driver he passed was indeed using a cell phone. 

          We live in a small town.  It takes approximately 5-6 minutes to go anywhere in town you want to go.  Then why does everyone have to be using a cell phone while driving?  Kids are at school or athletic functions and need to be picked up, someone forgot something and needs you to bring it to them, you are cooking supper and need whoever is out and about to pick up something at the store…and the list of ‘good reasons’ goes on and on.

          Statistics show, and if we were honest with ourselves we would know this without checking statistics, that the distraction of a cell phone almost quadruples our chances of getting into an accident.  Therefore, try to make it a habit to pull off the road to use your cell phone. 

          As the saying goes, ‘the life you save may be your own’.