California Cell Phone Driving Law

Using a cellphone while driving causes more accidents? In general, driver distraction is a major cause of road accidents. Using a cell phone requires attention and may be a contributing factor to accidents. Some studies indicate that the frequency of accidents is higher when drivers use a cell phone, while other studies conclude that such use does not affect the rate of accidents. However, the fact remains that using a cellphone is one of many distractions with which a driver must deal. In other words, when it comes to driver distraction, one must look not only to cell phones. Always check the regulations of the municipality, province, state or country. Some jurisdictions prohibit the use of a cell phone while driving, while others require the use of hands-free phones. Among the countries with the use of cellular phones is restricted, for example, include Australia, Austria, Belgium, Chile, Finland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Portugal, Spain, South Africa and the United Kingdom. In the U.S., the municipality, county or state regulates the use of cell phones. For example, cell phones are prohibited in the state of New York and Washington, DC, and in certain municipalities or counties. Which brings us to California which has , like every state , several laws banning or not the use of the cell phone behind the wheel and in the case of handeled and wireless cell phones . So for handheld cell phones, the state prohibits all use of the cell phones and literally bans it for novice drivers or in case passengers are present (in case of a bus driver for example) . This includes texting as well . As the The Wireless Communications Device Law (effective January 1, 2009) and the handheld wireless telephone laws were saying : It is an infraction to be writing , sending , or reading a text-based communication on an electronic wireless communications device , as a cell phone for instance , while operating a motor vehicle, this was beside another two laws that were established in july 2008 (California Vehicle Code [VC] §23123 , [VC] §23124 ) . The first law states that no driver should be using a handheld wireless communication device while behind the wheel and on the oher hand the second law is just concerning under aged motorists and bans them from any use of a cell phone while driving and allows over eighteen years old drivers to use a hands-free . Also the laws in California state that an officer can not stop a vehicle just to enforce the law and therefore the officer can only stop someone based on another independent infraction . But again the laws are here the protect us at first and I would like to think that the freedom limited by the presence of such laws is on our benefit .