Are New Distracted Driving Laws Doing Enough to Keep Us Safe?
As the founder of Teens Against Distracted Driving (TADD), I am keeping a keen eye on the effect of legislation passed earlier this year in Olympia that made non-hands-free use of a cell phone a primary offense. I came across an article by KNDO – Tri-Cities NBC affiliate – that talked about how the new law may be causing more harm than good. I have worked with numerous clients that have been hurt by distracted drivers, so it is of the utmost importance to me that we figure out the best way to solve this problem. Washington state senate bill (SB 6345) was passed earlier this year with widespread support to cut down on inappropriate cell phone use in cars, with special attention focused on texting. The new law has made texting while driving, as well as not using a hands free device while driving, a primary offense. The punishment for breaking this law is a $124 ticket. According to the bill, texting drivers have a 23% greater chance of a car accident than other drivers. In enacting this
