New Laws Go After Cell Phone Using Drivers

 Posted on December 00, 0000 in Car Accidents

Cell phone use while driving is the target of two new Illinois laws that went into effect January 1^st. The goal of the new laws is to reduce the increasing number of fatalities that are occurring because drivers are too distracted by talking and texting, taking attention away from the road.

House Bill 5101 prohibits texting or using a hand-held cell phone while driving a commercial motor vehicle. Prior to the new law, texting was prohibited, but cell phone use was allowed. The new bill means that a driver behind the wheel of a commercial motor vehicle with cell phone in hand faces serious motor vehicle violations.

The definition of a commercial vehicle includes a vehicle used in commerce with a weight of 26001 lbs or more, a vehicle designed to transport 16 or more people, or a vehicle transporting hazardous materials.  Exceptions are RVs for personal use, military vehicles, fire trucks, police vehicles and other emergency response vehicles.

Senate Bill 2488 prohibits cell phone use in construction zones or maintenance zones, no matter what the speed limit posted for those areas are. Drivers are allowed to use cell phones in voice-operated mode, which includes the use of a headset or cell phones used with single button activation.

Before the new law, if the speed limit in a work zone was not actually lower than the posted speed limit, it was not considered a work zone according to state statute definitions and higher violations didn’t apply.

In a recent press release announcing the new laws going into effective, Illinois Transportation Secretary Ann L. Schneider reminded drivers just how dangerous cell phone use and driving can be. “People are tragically injured and killed in work zones and by commercial motor vehicles due to distracted driving. Cell phone distractions have been proven to be as dangerous as drinking and driving,” said Schneider. “These laws will stiffen distracted driving laws and save lives.”

If you have been injured in an accident caused by someone’s distracted driving, contact an Illinois personal injury attorney to find out what compensation you may be entitled to for you pain and loss.