Cell Phone Use While Driving Now a Primary Offense in Washington State

In the interest of public safety, cell phone use while driving has been made a primary offense in the state of Washington. The State Governor has signed a Senate Bill to this effect.

According to the new law, the traffic police will have the right to pull up a driver if he is caught texting or talking on the cell phone without a handsfree device while driving. The traffic cops can issue tickets to the driver as well as fine them up to $124. Earlier, cell phone use driving was considered a second-degree offence, which did not permit traffic cops from pulling a driver simply for talking on the phone while driving. However, if such an offense is coupled with a primary offense, such as over speeding or jumping a red light, then the driver could be booked for double offense.

With the new law coming into effect, Washington has become the fourth state in the US to make cell phone use while driving a primary offense.

Exemptions to the Law

In public concern, there are certain exemptions to the rule. The list of exemptions includes:

• Drivers of emergency or public support vehicles.
• If the driver is using the cell phone to seek emergency aid or report illegal activity.

In a study conducted by Utah University in the year 2005, it was found that cell phone reduces the reaction time of a driver by more than 20%. Thus, even a young driver in his 20s will behave like a 70-year-old driver while talking on a cell phone. According to the reports published by the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, cell phone usage while driving is the primary cause for more than 2,600 deaths and 330,000 injuries every year in the US.

In case you have been a victim of a vehicular accident due to the driver’s negligence due to cell phone use, you can file a personal injury lawsuit against the driver. For this, the victim has to prove the negligence of the driver through certain circumstantial evidence. Consult a personal injury lawyer for assistance in filing a claim against a reckless driver and get the compensation you deserve.

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