The Joint Transportation Committee of the Massachusetts Legislature has unanimously approved a bill that would ban drivers from using handheld cellphones while behind the wheel in the Commonwealth. The Boston Globe reports that the 8-0 vote of the bill is just the start of the campaign for hands-free driving across the state.
The bill now has to travel through the House and Senate and might be evaluated by the Ways and Means Committee as it makes its way to a vote. There is no established timetable as to when the vote will take place. If the bill were to pass, Massachusetts would become the 10th state in the U.S. to ban talking or even holding a cellphone while driving.
In 2010, Massachusetts prohibited drivers under age 18 from using a cellphone and banned texting while driving for drivers of all ages. At that time, legislators did not take the next step of banning talking or using a cellphone in general by drivers over age 18.
The Transportation Department reports that police in Massachusetts gave about 1,100 citations to drivers for texting while behind the wheel. The challenges law enforcement have faced since the 2010 law, such as distinguishing when a driver is texting or dialing a number, would be no more if the ban of handheld cellphones is passed.
While hands-free technology has become more prevalent, drivers who have cellphones not equipped with this technology will have to either pull over to talk or will have to wait to make a call once they arrive at home, work, or whatever their destination may be.
The next several months will shed some more light on how the hands-free campaign is faring with officials. Until then and as always, drive safely.
When Should You Call a Boston Personal Injury Law Firm?
Have you been seriously injured in a car accident in Massachusetts due to another driver’s distracted driving?
Call a Boston car accidents attorney with Kiley Law Group at (888) 208-1695 to find out about your legal options.
