Distracted Driving Bans Popular in State Legislatures This Year

Distracted Driving Bans Popular in State Legislatures This Year

9 February 2007 · No Comments

Seen on the AP Wire:

Vermont lawmakers are considering a measure that would ban eating, drinking, smoking, reading, writing, personal grooming, playing an instrument, “interacting with pets or cargo,” talking on a cell phone or using any other personal communication device while driving. The punishment: a fine of up to $600.

Similar bills are under consideration in Maryland and Texas, and Connecticut has passed one that generically bans any activity that could interfere with the safe operation of a motor vehicle.[...]

“What finally pushed me over the edge was when I was at a stop sign and somebody opposite me was trying to navigate around the corner with a cell phone to the ear in one hand and a cigarette in the other, and she wasn’t doing very well,” said Republican [Vermont] state Rep. Thomas F. Koch.

He said his wife recently saw a driver playing the flute, which led him to include the instrument ban in his bill.

I wonder if that last driver was just flauting the law.

Tags: News From Connecticut · Odd · Roadgeek