Talking on the phone or sending text messages while driving is already a violation under the current traffic laws of Washington State. In the new law that was officially implemented on the 23rd, the scope of the crackdown on things that may cause drivers to be distracted while driving has been expanded, including holding any electronic devices in their hands while driving, such as mobile phones, tablets or other electronic devices, which will be banned in the future.
According to the new law, if a driver holds a mobile phone in his hand while driving, it will constitute a violation, and he is not allowed to check text messages on his mobile phone while driving. Even if you encounter a red light or traffic jam, and the car is stationary, you are still not allowed to use your mobile phone to watch videos.
Darrin Grondel, chairman of the Washington Traffic Safety Commission, said the new law is aimed at drivers “not touching their phones when they are on the road.”
According to statistics from the Washington State Traffic Safety Commission, the proportion of fatal car accidents caused by distracted driving in Washington State increased by 32% from 2014 to 2015; about 71% of drivers’ inattention to driving are related to mobile phones.
