States are coming down hard with increased fines and penalties for drivers who are caught breaking road traffic policies and laws. Keeping all road users safe on the road is an important priority for local and federal law enforcement and policymakers. Updates to this legislation are consistently underway in order to respond to not only the changing realities of the road but also to find more ways to stamp out illegal driving practices by drivers to prevent serious road traffic accidents and fatalities.
New legislation, new road traffic policies
Changes to road traffic legislation and policies have been seen across the nation, with the majority of states increasing the severity of their penalties for drivers who are caught breaking the law. Keeping all road users safe is a responsibility you have to undertake as a driver; not to do so is neglecting the implicit duty you have when it comes to using the roads.
Speeding and distracted drivers are possibly the biggest risk to road users. The faster you speed over the speed limit, you exponentially increase the risk of serious injury and fatality in a road accident. Further, you reduce your ability to react to other drivers. With an increasingly digitalized world, the use of phones in vehicles is becoming a significant problem.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), just taking your eyes off the road to answer a text on your phone for five seconds is the equivalent of driving the length of an entire football field with your eyes closed, assuming you are driving at 55mph. Data from the NHTSA shows that in 2023, 3,275 individuals were killed in a road accident thanks to distracted driving.
New $500 fines from this one state starting in August
In order to stamp out speeding and distracted driving, increased penalties are being introduced by states if you are caught doing this. In Louisiana, the state recently passed House Bill 519 last month, whereby starting from the beginning of August, it is now illegal to use your phone when driving unless it is for a hands-free call. The state has tried to pass similar legislation in the past regarding hands-free policies, but was unsuccessful.
“Finally, this year we were able to pass a distracted driving bill,” said Gov. Jeff Landry when signing the bill into law last month.
If you are caught violating the law, you will be fined $100 and up to $250 if you are caught using your phone in a school zone or construction area. Previous laws, which fine drivers up to $500 for a first-time offence for texting while driving and up to $1,000 for subsequent offences, will continue to apply. This month also saw the state pass legislation that fines drivers for misusing the left lane on highways.
New legislation to discourage this driving practice
Louisiana is not the only state that is actively implementing legislation to stamp out any phone usage in vehicles. In California, while it has always been illegal to use your phone in your vehicle, the state recently had a judge clarify that this legislation can extend to even just holding the cell phone in your hand, even if you are using your phone for navigation guidance.
With cell phones currently being an inescapable consequence of today’s technologically advanced and connected world, it may seem unavoidable that you have to answer your phone in your vehicle. However, efforts from states like Louisiana and California underscore the importance of prioritizing a phone-free environment when you are in a moving vehicle. Endangering the lives of others on the road is not worth more than answering a text or work email, and keeping your car free from distractions must be a practice that you get used to.
