Do you ever use your phone while driving? Check a quick text, navigate the map, or even use it to search something on the internet? A new law in Washington might be leading the way to world-wide reform of what we do behind the wheel.
The new law came into force in Washington state last month, and it aims to target distracted drivers. It prohibits even holding a phone while driving, as well as eating, applying makeup, and shaving.
Here's a great article talking about the new law. Says the USA Today: Drivers were distracted in crashes that killed 3,179 people in 2014, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Distractions such as dialing or texting tripled the risk of a crash, according to NHTSA.
The National Transportation Safety Board has named distracted driving as one of the 10 most important safety issues to remedy, after finding personal electronics caused or contributed to 11 accidents that killed 50 people and injured 259 since 2003.
Distractions are growing. Nearly 30% of drivers surveyed in 2015 admitted accessing the internet while driving, according to a State Farm survey, compared to just 13% in 2009.
We reckon anything that lowers the risk on our roads has got to be a good plan. And shaving behind the wheel... who out there does that!?
You can read the full article here. We'll be watching with interest to see if Washington's initiative spreads!
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