He said critics of the cell phone ban often fail to acknowledge this psychological phenomenon and therefore believe that any danger of using a phone while driving is simply caused by the need to hold the phone in one hand next to the ear instead of keeping both hands on the wheel. These critics believe bans are unnecessary because drivers can be very careful holding a phone to their ears, just like when eating a hamburger. Effective Jan. 1, Illinois drivers will no longer be legally allowed to hold cell phones to their ears and talk. But lawyers and others with the right technology can still communicate on the go. Most distracted rides, while dangerous, are still completely legal. And in Illinois, lawmakers are primarily focused on reducing accidents caused by cell phone use, neglecting other forms of distracted driving. Kratom: It`s legal in Michigan and people use it to get high. Here`s what you need to know No matter what state you`re in, texting is illegal. What for? Well, as NHTSA describes it: „Sending or reading a text takes your eyes off the road for 5 seconds. At 55 miles an hour, it`s like driving the entire length of a football field with your eyes closed.
Other forms of cellular communication, such as voice-activated calls or hands-free messages, vary from state to state. Today we`re going to take a look at Illinois and the two closest border states you can visit regularly: Wisconsin and Indiana. We will consult the GHSA to obtain the legal information we need. It is estimated that one in four car accidents in the United States is caused by texting and driving. To combat this, some states have imposed harsher penalties on drivers who are on the phone while driving. This is a state law, not a federal law, so laws vary from state to state. Is it illegal to use your cell phone while driving here in Illinois? Check it out below! With laws banning the use of cell phones (including texts and emails) while driving, and with a blanket ban on most electronic communication devices going into effect next January, Sims said the hands-free and vocal capabilities of modern electronics are becoming increasingly valuable for a busy lawyer who is constantly on the move. Well, yes, it is. But why would you want that? Assuming you`ve already equipped your car with hands-free technology, there`s no good reason to remove a hand off the wheel to hold a phone to your ear.
The dangers of texting while driving are well documented, so why take the risk if you`re already used to avoiding it? Michigan lawmakers are also considering three bills introduced in February that would only allow hands-free calls and text messages and increase penalties for texting or posting on social media while driving. None of these laws have yet been passed. After Georgia introduced a hands-free law, distracted driving dropped by 21 percent. As in Illinois and Wisconsin, distracted driving can be cited. Just like in Wisconsin and Illinois, text messages are banned. However, hands-free and hands-free calls are legal. Unless you`re a beginner, what Indiana defines as a driver under 21. Under Illinois law, distracted driving, including using your cell phone or other „electronic communication device“ while driving, is illegal in most cases. „Electronic communication equipment“ means mobile phones, laptops and other portable electronic devices. Are you worried about doing it alone? You may be able to get free legal help. The company noted that in states that have begun enforcing hands-free laws, time spent behind the wheel has been diverted, sometimes significantly reduced.
Georgia, for example, had some of the most distracted drivers according to TrueMotion`s criteria and was well above the national average for fatal crashes related to distracted driving. All of this happened despite a text message ban similar to Wisconsin`s. The new law expands an existing prohibition in the Illinois Vehicle Code on texting and emailing while driving, prohibiting any use of electronic communication devices while driving, but with a few narrow exceptions for things like hands-free calling, GPS navigation, CB and HAM radios and emergency situations — a change that will have a huge impact on lawyers practicing right driving. „I don`t know if it really has a driving mode, but you can reach Siri by holding down the round button, and then it pops up and makes you wonder what you want to do,“ Sims said. „You don`t have to use your hands to do anything — you just talk to Siri and tell her what to do, and she`ll do it.“ Sims also said that many smartphones, such as iPhones and the Samsung Galaxy S4, have voice-activated features that allow some of the important aspects of the device to be used exclusively with hands-free controls. Diverted driving is a citable offense in Illinois. Texting while driving is illegal. Mobile calls are also against the law. Using a hands-free cell phone is legal unless you are a beginner (under the age of 19, as defined by Illinois state law). „Of course, I would never practice as a lawyer while driving, but I`m sure everyone does,“ joked Bryan M.
Sims, a Naperville-based business lawyer and legal technologist. „If you`re talking to clients or reading emails or anything else with your phone on your way home from the courthouse, you`d better be aware of this law.“ Distracted driving has become a major problem these days, which is why Illinois is taking strict measures to reduce accidents caused by using a phone while driving. It is illegal to use a cell phone while driving, whether you are texting, calling, emailing, or anything else. Drivers aged 19 and older are allowed to use hands-free kits or Bluetooth technology, but headsets are prohibited. The only time a driver can use their cell phone while driving is when they report an emergency, are parked on the emergency lane of a road, or are stopped during a traffic jam and the vehicle is parked. Penalties for causing an accident due to distracted driving can be severe and result in a hefty fine and/or jail time. Previous attempts to enact statewide hands-free laws have failed in Michigan, but some cities like Troy, Warren, and Battle Creek already ban texting or convenient calls while driving. „Law enforcement is struggling with bans on texting alone because there are other things people could do on their phones,“ she said.
„With the speaker, they just need to see you on your phone, which is easier to apply.“ On Monday, Illinois became a hands-free state. Law enforcement officers can now buy tickets to text, call, browse — anything that involves a cell phone, tablet or laptop. Violators are liable to fines of $75 for a first offence, $100 for a second, $125 for a third and $150 for other offences. Three offences in one year and a driver`s licence can be revoked. S-Voice and Siri programs can dial the phone numbers of people in a contact list, type emails or text messages as dictated by the user, and even play specific songs from a playlist, all in response to voice commands that make these features legal under one-button voice activation exceptions. hands-free and vocal in Illinois laws. Note: Drivers under the age of 19 may never use cell phones, even hands-free ones, except in an emergency, to communicate with a law enforcement, health care provider or emergency services agency. Macek said hands-free laws are more comprehensive, easier to enforce and have more teeth. www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-cb-illinois-texting-while-driving-crackdown-20190620-ad4wybdspnbsljvomhssu5whea-story.html There are a few exceptions: phones can be used to signal an emergency while parked on the emergency lane of a roadway or when traffic is naturally obstructed – such as waiting for a train – when a vehicle is in neutral or parked.
It is also acceptable to use an electronic device when it is in Bluetooth or hands-free mode. No surprise: distracted driving is also illegal in Wisconsin. SMS is illegal, without exception. Mobile calls are acceptable unless you are in a work area. Hands-free calls are also acceptable. As in Illinois, if you are a beginner, any telephone operation is taboo.