New Law Legalizes Hands-Free Communication While Driving

Under a new California law, drivers may engage in hands-free texting and email if they are using voice-operated technology.

2013-01-09

January 09, 2013 (Press-News.org) New law legalizes hands-free communication while driving

It is no secret that Los Angeles residents spend a great deal of time on the highways. They may be happy to hear that a new law creates an exception to the ban on text-based communication. Under the exception, drivers may engage in hands-free texting and email if they are using voice-operated technology.

Details of the new law

California is the second state to legalize hands-free texting using voice-operated technology. Idaho was the first. Authors of the law, which takes effect on the first of January, say it allows California residents to communicate in a safe and responsible manner while driving.

Residents are likely to interpret this new law as allowing them to text and email freely using voice technology. However, the actual intent of the law is to allow in-dash navigation and messaging systems to operate in compliance with the current regulations.

The law is intentionally written in broad language by the drafters. Although smart phone voice-operated applications such as Siri were not exactly what the bill's drafters had in mind, the language used allows these applications to fit comfortably within the exception.

Representatives caution the bill is not intended as an endorsement of texting and driving. Hands-free communication is subject to the same laws and requirements as existing services that use voice control, such as On-Star. As long as the service is hands-free, it is legal when the law takes effect on the first of January.

Distracted driver accountability

Distracted driving is an increasingly serious problem. Distracted driving is any activity that takes a driver's attention away from the primary task of driving. A distracted driver who causes injury to another in an accident may still be held accountable even if no texting laws are broken.

In 2010, over 3000 people were killed in crashes involving a distracted driver, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. Additionally, distracted drivers were involved in over 400,000 crashes resulting in injuries. Overall, 18 percent of injury crashes in 2010 reported distracted driving as contributing to the crash.

The use of hands-free devices such as those allowed under California's new bill still result in cognitive distractions; drivers often miss visual and audio cues that normally assist in avoiding a crash.

Texting is the most serious distraction because it requires that several different cognitive tasks be performed at the same time. Sending or reading a text takes a driver's eyes off the road for 4.5 seconds, which is the equivalent of driving the length of an entire football field blindfolded at 55 miles per hour.

An individual injured in a car accident involving a distracted driver may be entitled to compensation. An experienced California personal injury attorney can provide knowledge and guidance as well as assist with obtaining any available compensation.

Article provided by Law Offices of Elia J. Castranova
Visit us at http://www.injurylawyerencino.com/

ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

Marijuana is Legal in Washington, But Driving Under its Influence is Not

2013-01-09

Marijuana is legal in Washington, but driving under its influence is not In November 2012, Washington became one of only two states in the nation -- the other state is Colorado -- to legalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana for personal use. As of 12:01 a.m. on December 6, 2012, Washington ballot Initiative 502 (I-502) became law, and now anyone over 21 years old can legally possess up to one ounce of marijuana. How non-medicinal users of marijuana can legally obtain the substance, however, is still a gray area. While pro-legalization individuals celebrated ...

Maryland Child Custody Basics

2013-01-09

Maryland child custody basics Child custody decisions as a result of divorce can be complicated. Divorcing parents have leeway to make mutual decisions about child custody, but if they cannot agree, the court will step in to make the decision for them. Maryland child custody law There are two types of custody: physical and legal. Physical custody refers to the home where the child lives and making routine decisions about the child's day-to-day life. Legal custody is the right to make global, long-term decisions on behalf of the child, such as religious affiliation, ...

Tips for Business Owners to Avoid Tax Audits

2013-01-09

Tips for business owners to avoid tax audits Many people mistakenly believe that small businesses are less likely than larger companies to be audited by the Internal Revenue Service -- but this is not the case. In fact, the IRS often targets small companies for tax audits. Therefore, it is especially important for small business owners to take steps to protect themselves from the risk of an IRS audit. Declare all income As obvious as it may seem, one of the most common mistakes that result in tax audits for small business owners is failing to report their entire ...

The Push for Alimony Reform in New Jersey

2013-01-09

The Push for Alimony Reform in New Jersey In June 2012, the New Jersey Assembly unanimously passed a bill to create a blue-ribbon commission to study the state's alimony laws and give recommendations to the legislature on how to update them. A companion bill is working its way through the New Jersey Senate. Supporters of the measure believe the time has come to modernize the state's alimony system to eliminate what many believe are injustices it causes. Activists are also pushing for more reform to the state's alimony laws. Commission Proposed to Study Alimony Laws The ...

Pennsylvania DOT Launches Safety Campaign to Curb Distracted Driving

2013-01-09

Pennsylvania DOT Launches Safety Campaign to Curb Distracted Driving The act of driving is a more complicated task than many people realize. Driving requires the measurement of the distance of vehicles and objects in front, behind and to the side of the car, and it requires the simultaneous manipulation of the steering wheel and foot pedals to safely travel down the road. It is because driving is so complicated that distracted driving, such as reading a text or eating a burger while behind the wheel, poses such a hazard. According to the Pennsylvania Department of ...

Property Owners Must Inspect for Hazards

2013-01-09

Property owners must inspect for hazards Most Connecticut residents probably realize that being an owner or occupant of property carries certain responsibilities. A classic responsibility for homeowners is shoveling their sidewalks in winter so visitors don't slip. The responsibility an owner owes to most visitors to his or her property is called premises liability: the legal responsibility property occupants and owners have for injuries and accidents on their property. A recent incident in Bridgeport, Connecticut is illustrative of the issue of premises liability. ...

Dog Bite Liability in Connecticut: The Growing Focus on Pit Bulls

2013-01-09

Dog Bite Liability in Connecticut: The Growing Focus on Pit Bulls Dog bite liability is a concern in Connecticut for more than the mail person. Anyone can be the victim of a dog bite and too often dog bite victims are small children. A dog bite can quickly result in a trip to the emergency room, and a serious dog bite can result in life-threatening injuries. In recent years certain dog breeds, such as pit bulls, have been identified as being more dangerous than other breeds, and the idea is now leading to more legal scrutiny regarding the owners of such breeds. The highest ...

A Brief Overview of Probate in Ohio

2013-01-09

A Brief Overview of Probate in Ohio When a loved one passes away, it can be hard to transition to addressing the affairs of the estate after remembrance. The administration of a deceased loved one's estate can involve the probate process, which determines how a person's assets are apportioned after death according to his or her will and state law. This article provides a brief overview of the Ohio probate process to help familiarize those who will go through the process. What is Probate? Probate is a legal proceeding that administers certain types of assets and ...

Out-of-State DUI Effects on Las Vegas Tourists

2013-01-09

Out-of-state DUI effects on Las Vegas tourists When most tourists think about Las Vegas, they conjure up images of gambling, spectacular shows, and free food and alcohol. Yet, tourists would be wise to remember that rules don't go out the window once they land in Las Vegas, and that a DUI conviction has harsh penalties in the state of Nevada. Implications and penalties for an out-of-state DUI DUI charges occur in every state, regardless of whether the recipient is an in-state or out-of-state resident. Although the legal blood alcohol limit of .08 percent is the ...

Nevada Drug Court Celebrates 20th Anniversary

2013-01-09

Nevada drug court celebrates 20th anniversary The Nevada court system recently celebrated the 20th anniversary of the establishment of its drug courts. The celebration highlighted the enormous gains made by both the participants in drug court and the state. 20 years of drug court in Nevada The ceremony was held in October at the Regional Justice Center in Las Vegas. It featured a keynote speech by the Nevada Supreme Court Chief Justice, who stated, that compared to other court programs, the Nevada drug courts boast the highest impact on the criminal justice system, ...

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:

New strategies to enhance chiral optical signals unveiled

Cambridge research uncovers powerful virtual reality treatment for speech anxiety

2025 Gut Microbiota for Health World Summit to spotlight groundbreaking research

International survey finds that support for climate interventions is tied to being hopeful and worried about climate change

Cambridge scientist launches free VR platform that eliminates the fear of public speaking

Open-Source AI matches top proprietary model in solving tough medical cases

Good fences make good neighbors (with carnivores)

NRG Oncology trial supports radiotherapy alone following radical hysterectomy should remain the standard of care for early-stage, intermediate-risk cervical cancer