Cell Phone Restrictions for Teenage Drivers

You have probably seen it before, a car pulls up next to you and someone is chatting away on their cell phone. While some people are able to maintain focus on the road ahead while driving and talking, others aren’t so fortunate and wind up in an auto accident due to the distraction of a cell phone.

Sadly many teen drivers are using their cell phones not only to call their friends and family while driving, but they have begun sending text and picture messages while driving. There is a cell phone ban in effect in most states, but it is hard to enforce for most states.

It is well-known fact that teen drivers are inexperienced and easily distracted compared to older drivers. Many teen drivers have slow reaction times and this only increases with the use of a cell phone.

Several states have enacted cell phone bans for teen drivers, but they are still hard to enforce. Currently, California will charge teen drivers $25 for their first offense, other states are charging more. For police officers, finding the teen driver in the act is the hard part. Many teens admit they use their cell phone in the car, but quickly throw it in their lap if they see a police officer. Aggressive enforcement is the key to enforcing the cell phone ban, but it doesn’t start there.

Teens should have both hands on the steering wheel.

Many groups are advocating the parents of these teen drivers, telling them to teach their child safe driving habits. Talking and texting while driving are a distraction and many parents do not inform their child of the consequences of using a cell phone while driving.

Some states have considered banning teen driving from using a cell phone and limiting the number of passengers teen drivers could have with them when they drive a car. In 2006, 5,516 teen drivers died in vehicle crashes. Traffic crashes are the leading cause of death for teenagers. Due to the overwhelming amount of deaths, the National Transportation Safety Board recommended that all states bar teen drivers from using cell phones.

Many states have allowed teen drivers to use their cell phone with a hands free device, thinking this will allow the teen to concentrate on the road when talking. Some states allow teens one exception to the cell phone ban and that is to use their phone to call 911 in case of an emergency.

Other states have taken extra steps to stop the cell phone problem before teens even get their license. Two hands should be on the wheel at all times and teaching this to teens before they obtain their license is considered a good practice. Teens need to understand that their decisions in the car can impact other drivers and possibly get them or another driver killed or seriously injured. National campaigns have been started to teach teens about the dangers of using their cell phones while driving. Pulling over to talk on your phone is one of the biggest teachings in this campaign. Other teachings include waiting until you get home to place a call. The safety of yourself and of other drivers and pedestrians is of the utmost importance.

The cell phone ban laws are poorly written too. Some states have several loopholes in the law stating that a teen can talk on the phone if they are talking to their parent, a doctor, or law enforcement. California has decided to combat this by banning all sixteen and seventeen year olds from using the cell phone at all.

Until the United States can find a way to properly enforce the cell phone ban, there may always be a problem with teen drivers using their cell phones when driving.