Massachusetts Personal Injury Library
New Hampshire Considers Hands-Free Cell Use for Drivers
An article in The Eagle Tribune last week highlighted how the New Hampshire legislature is considering banning handheld cell phones while driving and allowing hands-free technology to be used in the car instead. The proposed bill would prohibit handheld cells from being used by drivers, who could face a $100 fine if they're caught in the act. Police who witness a driver with a handheld cell would be able to look at the person's cell to confirm that there was a call placed when they were spotted. Supporters of the bill believe that the piece of legislation would lead to fewer distracted drivers on the roadways and welcome the bill, largely because driver inattention is a leading factor in car accidents.
According to the Fatality Analysis Reporting System of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Massachusetts saw 23 drivers involved in fatal accidents in 2009 who were considered to be inattentive and distracted (such as talking or eating while driving). That same year, New Hampshire statistics recorded 3 drivers in fatal crashes who were reported as being inattentive. Texting in NH was made illegal in January 2010, while Massachusetts followed suit at the end of September that same year. Teenagers are prohibited from using handheld cells in the Commonwealth. Currently, both MA and NH allow adult operators to use handheld phones while at the wheel. Massachusetts has seen proposals that are similar to the one currently under review in New Hampshire come across the desk of the legislature banning handheld cells for over a decade, but the Commonwealth has not adopted any bill to date. In Massachusetts it is illegal to drive while distracted, with or without using a cell, and it is also against the law to cause a crash because the at-fault driver was distracted.
