From Philadelphia, Pennsylvania law offices, our attorneys represent car accident victims throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

The National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration found that more than half a million people were injured and nearly 6,000 people were killed due to distracted drivers in 2008. With headlines wrought with reports of cell phone and text messaging-related fatalities, the national trend of enacting distracted driver laws is not surprising. As of July 2010, nine states and the District of Columbia enacted bans on hand-held phone use by drivers. More and more states are joining the fold, including Pennsylvania.

During its 2009-2010 legislation session, Pennsylvania’s senators and assembly members drafted a number of bills that target cell phone users and text messengers.

Senate Bill 143 strictly prohibits the use of wireless electronic communications while operating motor vehicles on public highways. This bill has sister legislation in the form of House Bill 1375. Another potential amendment to the Vehicle Code of Pennsylvania comes in the form of Senate Bill 305. In this Senate Bill, any form of text messaging, whether sending or reading, is prohibited while a person is operating a motor vehicle. While Senate Bill 143 covers all wireless communications, Senate Bill 459 is specifically geared toward hand-held and mobile phone communications. Under this proposed bill, drivers are not allowed to make or receive any form of cell phone communication when their vehicle is in motion. House Bill 2070 compliments this senate bill by also addressing the apportionment of fines. These bills have various exceptions. The most notable exceptions include use in emergency situations and by public safety officers and personnel.

While lawmakers work to develop laws that keep pace with cellular technology advances, some doubt whether these restrictions are effective in reducing crashes. The Highway Loss Data Institute’s December 2009 hand-held cell phone law report showed that there was no decrease in crashes or other traffic safety patterns for those states enacting such laws. These findings could relate to unexpected factors, including increased use of hands-free devices, but are inconsistent with a University of Utah report that claimed cell phone use renders a driver’s reactions similar to that of a person with a blood alcohol concentration of .08 percent.

While states continue to follow the national trend prohibiting cell phone use by drivers, administrations and public interest groups should continue to monitor the efficacy of such laws. In reality, legislation without a real impact on public safety is simply wasted paper.

Responsible drivers shouldn’t bear the burden when an inattentive driver harms them. If you believe your injury was caused by someone driving distracted, it is important to promptly contact an experienced personal injury lawyer and share this information with him or her.

Top