What is it with all the distracted driver lately.

[Eagle1]

In PA to fix the texting low cost tickets, they have added a phone in hand rule/law.

In Pennsylvania, a new law prohibits using handheld cell phones and other electronic devices while driving, starting June 5th. This means holding a phone, even at a red light or in traffic, is illegal. Violations could result in a $50 fine after a one-year warning period, according to a YouTube video. The law, known as Paul Miller's Law, aims to reduce distracted driving and improve road safe.

But it is only a comparatively small fine so not sure it will be enforced.
However, I have seen that most ticket now add admin, police, fire and other fees to make them more worthwhile to enforce and make it cover the actual costs to have police and admin handle the ticket.

But if you are not holding the phone (dash mount, etc) then what?
Does fiddling on your big touch screen car interface make you a more attentive driver? Entering a new address in your GPS while driving can be interesting. It's also tricky to drive while punching buttons on an OBD scanner trying to find an intermittent or speed depending problem. Not a Phone, right?

Need more laws...

 

[Jstpssng]

^^^^
As much as I refuse to talk to a phone or other electronic device, that's when it might be a tad safer to utilize voice recognition.

 

[Gator6x4]

This doesn't apply to interstate onramps where a yield sign is present. (Almost all of them).

One problem with quoting laws is you almost need training in reading them to read between the lines.

Here's the Illinois code for that.

625 ILCS 5/11-904

So what happens is you get some self righteous types that don't yield the passing lane or try to force an opening on the interstate or who don't understand that once a zipper is closed, you are no longer 'zipper' merging when you fly past the closed zipper.

Of course, none of this is distracting driving, it's ignorant driving.

The only way to fix distracted driving is for officers to focus on it as a problem. It's easier to "prove" speeding (revenue) or drunk driving (safety). Texting and driving has been shown to be as bad (or worse) than drunk driving, but the penalties are much lower.

The only distracted driving that is regulated is cell phone usage and this varies by state. Montana is an anything goes state.

Restrictions on cell phone use while driving in the United States - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org