By Kelly Youngblood
If you’re trying to figure out what to do with those gift cards, here’s a good idea for all of the licensed drivers in your family: a hands-free cell phone device for the car.
As of Jan. 1, 2014, every driver in Illinois will need one if they want to talk on their cell phones while operating a motor vehicle.
The new legislation, signed by Governor Quinn in August, prohibits the use of hand-held cell phones while on the road and also increases penalties for accidents caused by distracted driving.
The law does make one exception- drivers can use hands-free devices (such as Bluetooth) that will allow them to talk on the phone while keeping both hands on the wheel.
Although the law is aimed at reducing the number of accidents due to distracted drivers, not all Illinois residents are convinced it will be effective.
Shauna Miller of Champaign says she understands cell phones can be an issue when drivers aren’t paying attention, but says the no-tolerance policy isn’t really the answer.
“People still eat and drive, change the radio station, talk with people in the car, etc. Distractions will always be there, and penalizing someone for making a two-minute phone call to order dinner on their way home will just clog the courthouse with more unnecessary tickets,” Miller said.
Enforcing the law is also a waste of police resources, Miller adds. “Law enforcement should be worried about far more important things than someone using their cell phone,” she said.
Jorge Cazares, a Chambana dad, also expressed his disapproval for the new legislation. “While they’re at it, they should also ban teenagers driving with friends and loud music and require teens to display a “How’s my driving” sticker on the back,” he said.
According to distraction.gov, distracted driving is any activity that could divert a person’s attention away from driving such as using a cell phone or smartphone, eating, drinking, and even talking to passengers. However, the website claims texting is by far the most alarming distraction.
Distraction.gov, the official U.S. government website for distracted driving, also states “headset cell phone use is not substantially safer than hand-held use.”
Brandy Winstead of Farmer City says she would be in favor of the ban if it applied to teenage drivers but felt experienced drivers should be exempt.
“Those of us who have 10, 15, 20 or more years of driving experience have had time to assimilate being on the phone and driving into our lives. It’s just as much a part of driving as changing the radio station, eating and driving and getting rowdy kids to settle down in the back seat. Distracted driving? Ask a parent, we are pros!” Winstead said.
Illinois will become one of 12 states to have banned the use of hand-held cell phones while driving.