WASHINGTON-New Jersey Gov. James McGreevey (D) signed legislation banning handheld phone use while operating a motor vehicle, the second state to take phones out of drivers’ hands.
“Cell phones have become inescapable,” said McGreevey, who signed the bill into law last week. “They are part of our daily lives. This ban will not threaten that. Like any other instrument that could be dangerous, cell phones must be used responsibly. Requiring drivers to keep both hands on the wheel will save lives.”
New York is the only other state to impose such a prohibition, though many other states have considered doing the same. Some towns have enacted ordinances outlawing driver use of handheld phones. A number of countries have imposed restrictions on cell-phone use by drivers.
Also under the New Jersey law, the placement of hands-free gear cannot interfere with the operation of federally required equipment, such as air bags. The law provides some leeway for drivers, permitting use of handheld phones for safety and emergency purposes.
“Enactment of this law will end the confusion many motorists face while driving through our state, never knowing which towns prohibit the use of handheld cell phones while driving,” said New Jersey Assemblyman Douglas Fisher (D). “We now have a uniform law that will require drivers to minimize distractions while driving, making our roads safer.”
The mobile-phone industry, with one big exception, opposes cell-phone driver restrictions. The industry argues, among other things, hands-free accessories do not improve driver concentration. Various studies back up that claim. The Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Association insists driver education is the key.
Verizon Wireless, the nation’s No. 1 mobile-phone operator, supports statewide bans on driver use of handheld phones partly for reasons voiced by New Jersey’s Fisher.
There is a big catch with the New Jersey law: Enforcement of it kicks in only when a driver is stopped by a police officer for a traffic violation or some other offense. In that case, fines range from $100 to $250. Moreover, motor vehicle points or automobile insurance eligibility points cannot be assessed for violating the cell-phone driver law.
The governor’s office said a Quinnipiac University poll showed 85 percent of New Jersey’s voters overwhelmingly favor a handheld cell-phone ban. Even those who used cell phones said drivers should keep their hands on the wheel, according to McGreevey.
Meantime, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is conducting research to better understand driver distraction.
