ANDREWS AIR FORCE BASE, Md. –
Most military personnel are familiar with the Department of Defense directive that forbids motorists to drive and talk on their cellular phones without a hands free device. Now, similar rules have gone into effect in Virginia and Maryland and the District of Columbia -- at least for younger drivers.
In Virginia, July 1 signaled the enforcement of a new law that imposes strict fines up to $1,000 dollars or more to violators of the Teen Driver Cell Phone Ban. The law bans all drivers under the age of 18 with learner's permits from using cell phones to talk or text message unless their automobile is parked and fully stopped, even if a hands-free device is used.
The Commonwealth joins 10 other states and the District of Columbia that already have similar laws on their books. In fact, a total of 33 states have introduced some legislation regarding cell phone motorist usage in the past two years.
The nation's driver advocacy group, the American Automobile Association, estimates this new law will save the lives of three or four teens a week in Virginia. Mr. Lon Anderson of the Mid-Atlantic AAA Chapter states, "With distracted driving eclipsing drunk driving as the number one concern facing Virginia drivers, this one law addresses a very significant issue for our teens."
Maryland's ban on teen cell phone use while driving has been in place for nearly two years now. The Maryland law includes penalties such as a 90-day license suspension, with the only exception being 911 emergency calls. In Washington, D.C., drivers of all ages are forbidden to use cell phone unless operated with a hands-free device. The 2004 law has been credited with saving many lives.
"It has been tremendous in helping our personnel overcome some needless accidents," said Tech. Sgt. James Wallace, 316th Wing Safety Office, noncommissioned officer in charge. "I wouldn't be surprised if every state in the nation passes a law like this one soon. Unfortunately, we still see a lot of individuals talking without a hands-free cellular device. We even saw one accident this year due to talking on a cell phone. It is hard to stop everyone all the time."
Eleven states, including Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia, as well as the District of Columbia, specifically restrict the use of cell phones while driving by teens.
"We can all do our part in stopping poor drivers, including teens on cell phones, so we all can be safe on the road," said Sergeant Wallace. "These rules just help us do it more effectively."