The Massachusetts Senate recently announced the passing of a new bill concerning cell phone use while driving on Monday, Jan. 25, 2016. Even though it has not yet passed through the House of Representatives, it is likely to, and then be sent to Governor Charlie Baker for his approval. If signed, the bill will become a new law in Massachusetts.
The process of a bill becoming a law is a long one. Bills are typically put aside for future consideration, or even worse, killed. Most bills never make it out of either chamber, the Senate or House, and if they do, they must pass through each. Even then, they are still not official laws. They must be signed by the person in the leadership position, such as a governor or president depending on the type of government the law is being made under. In this case, it is a state law being made through state legislature, therefore needing Governor Baker’s signature.
In 2010, the Massachusetts Legislature, like many other states, passed legislation that banned texting while driving. Although using a phone for other purposes such as making a call, or for navigation services are still considered permissible under the law, except for individuals under eighteen years of age. This new bill will “[ban] all hand-operated use of mobile devices while operating a motor vehicle”, but still allow “the use of mobile devices for GPS and telephone call functions . . . so long as they are used in ‘hands-free’ mode” (Patch).
Breaking this law will result in a fine that exponentially grows as the number of offenses increases. Initial violations will result in a $100 fine, second-time a $250 fine, and subsequent a $500 fine.
Mounts for phones that attach to the dashboard for navigation services and bluetooth earpieces to make calls are popular on the market. The majority of newer model cars have features such as built in navigation software and the ability to answer calls and send texts through voice recognition. Going “hands-free” should be no problem with today’s technology.
According to the National Safety Council, cell phone use while driving “accounted for 26 percent or approximately 7,800 of the 30,000 lives lost in auto accidents in 2013” (Patch). A lot of those deaths were the lives of teenagers. This statistic comes as no surprise as teenagers become more attached to their electronic devices with the rapidly advancing technology. Many teenagers claim they will not use their cell phone while driving, but once behind the wheel, they may realize it is a tough distraction to avoid, even if a drive from one location to another only takes a few minutes. I have come to realize this as well while driving, and often see other people on their devices, eyes off the road and on their phones, while driving. Not just teenagers do this, but adults too. It’s not worth the risk.
Even if it’s not texting or using social media, using a device for music, as a GPS, or making calls still takes people’s eyes off the road and puts themselves and others’ lives in danger. It is a risk many people take, and just because nothing happens the first time, or the time after that, this does not mean it can’t the next, or in the future. Thankfully this new law, if passed, should substantially decrease distractions behind the wheel, if not eliminate them completely. Massachusetts will become the fifteenth state to adopt this “hands-free” law and is among the forty-six states that have banned texting while driving.
