Louisiana lawmakers look at ways to limit driver distractions
Louisiana continues to be ranked top 10 for states with the most distracted drivers. With a total of 3,754 fatal crashes and 18% involving a distracted driver, Louisiana ranks sixth in the comparison to other states with the most fatal crashes involving distracted drivers.
In April, State Rep. Mike Huval introduced bill HB580 during the Legislative Session. The bill aims to strengthen the ban on phone use while driving.
The bill would prohibit all drivers from calling, text messaging, using social networking, using apps or accessing data on a handheld telecommunication device while driving on a public road or highway. It includes physically holding the device but allows drivers to make calls if needed to report a traffic crash or medical emergencies.
The present law prohibits the use of wireless telecommunications devices in school zones and defines the term engaging in a call as talking or listening on a wireless telecommunications device.
The proposed law prohibits the use of certain wireless telecommunications devices while operating a vehicle to expand the prohibition against the use of wireless telecommunication devices while operating a vehicle not only in school zones but to the general operation of a motor vehicle anywhere. Also, the proposed law modifies the definition of engaging in a call in the present law to include talking or listening during a voice transmission on a wireless telecommunications device or manually entering names or phone numbers to initiate a call, except when using a hands-free wireless device.
The bill defines a wireless telecommunications device as a cellular telephone, a text messaging device, a personal digital assistant, a stand-alone computer or other electronic device, or any other portable wireless device that is removable from the vehicle and is used to write, send or read text or data through manual input.
The Louisiana House Bill 580 returned to the calendar May 25.
The Louisiana highway safety officials reported driver distraction is a contributing factor in many crashes.
In Louisiana, 678 people were killed in 2021 because of some distraction either inside or outside the vehicle, and another 23,089 people suffered a serious injury.
CDC studies show certain groups are more at risk for distracted driving than others. Among fatal crashes involving distracted drivers in the U.S. in 2019, a higher percentage of drivers ages 15–20 were distracted than drivers age 21 and older.
A survey showed of U.S. high school students texting or emailing while driving was more common among White students (44%) than Black (30%) or Hispanic students (35%).
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: Louisiana lawmakers examine ways to reduce distracted driving
