ArsGeek

As a driver there are three things that annoy me: People who do not know how to use their turn signal. People who run red lights and people who use their cell phones while driving. Mainly it’s the latter that strikes a nerve. To the guilty ones I’ve come across: You are NOT that important and whatever the conversation is, it can wait!

Many times out and about it’s very difficult to distinguish a drunk driver from a cell phone driver- the main give away is typically the time of day. Whenever I see someone veering off, swerving, going under the speed limit, sure enough they’re gabbing away on the phone. It doesn’t seem to matter if it’s on speaker, headset or hand held- they more than likely can’t walk and chew gum at the same time, so what on Earth makes them think they can talk and drive a heavy vehicle going at a dangerous speed at the same time?

What shocked me more than anything was looking at http://www.cellular-news.com/car_bans/ and noting how most countries ban the use of a cell phone while behind the wheel, yet in the good ol’ US of A where Idiocracy manifests, very few states put halt on this dangerous and annoying habit.

Here’s a list of states that have it right and those who need to step it up:

Alabama
 No
 
Alaska
 No
 
Arkansas
 Partial
 School bus drivers are banned from using a cell phone.
 
Arizona
 Partial
 A bill to introduce a ban was lost by a 4-3 vote in the Senate Transportation Committee. Bus drivers are banned from using a cell phone
 
California
 Yes
 Bill to introduce ban failed Feb 1998. Beginning Jan. 1, 2008, violators face a US$20 fine for a first offense and a US$50 ticket for subsequent infractions.
 
Colorado
 No
 Teens with restricted licenses are banned - but can only be stoped for another violation first
 
Connecticut
 Yes
 Banned with effect from Oct. 2005 - teens are also forbidden from using handsfree kits while moving
 
Delaware
 No
 A driver can already be prosecuted for “inattentive driving” - which can include using a cell phone. Studies into the issue have been requested
 
District of Columbia
 Yes
 Banned from July 2004
 
Florida
 Partial
 State Attorney General said that cities can set local regulations - July 2001. Overturned by Governor Bush..
 
Georgia
 Partial
 School bus drivers banned from using cell phones while driving. DeKalb County has fines when crashes can be attributed to driving while using a cellphone.
 
Hawaii
 Being debated
 A bill has been introduced in Hawaii’s legislature by Sen. Joseph Souki, D-Wailuku-Waiehu.
 
Idaho
 No
 
Illinois
 Partial
 School bus drivers are banned - Chicago has passed a bill banning driving while using a phone, fines of US$50 per infraction.
 
Indiana
 No
 Ban proposed by State Sen. Rose Antich Carr - Jan 2004
 
Iowa
 Being debated
 
Kansas
 No
 Bill to introduce ban failed in 2000
 
Kentucky
 No
 
Louisiana
 Being debated
 Study into the effects of a ban underway
 
Maine
 Partial
 Minors and those on learner driving licenses may not use a cell phone while driving
 
Maryland
 No
 Bill to ban dropped Feb. 2001. New proposal in the House, proposed by Delegates Arnick and Mandel
 
Massachusetts
 Partial
 Bill for most users pending - but bus drivers already banned. Drivers required to keep at least one hand on the steering wheel while holding a phone.
 
Michigan
 No
 
Minnesota
 Partial
 Teenagers and provisional drivers are banned - $100 fine plus delays in license upgrades for offenders
 
Mississippi
 No
 Legislation prevents local councils enacting their own ban.
 
Missouri
 No
 
Montana
 No
 
Nebraska
 No
 Bill planned by State Sen. Jim Cudaback - Jan 2004
 
Nevada
 No
 State bill to introduce ban failed April 1999. Local bill in Clark County also blocked Nov. 2001. Nevada state passed bill banning local regulations, March 2003.
 
New Hampshire
 Partial
 Not explicitly banned, but you can be prosecuted if using a cellphone when involved in an driving accident.
 
New Jersey
 Yes
 Banned from July 2004 - the fine is up to US$250
 
New Mexico
 Partial
 Being debated - local ban in the city of Santa Fe
 
New York
 Yes
 Ban effective from Nov. 2001
 
North Carolina
 Being debated
 Study into the effects of cell phone usage while driving being carried out.
 
North Dakota
 Being debated
 Bill proposed by Sen. Harvey Tallackson, D-Grafton, Feb 2005
 
Ohio
 Partial
 The City of Cleveland is discussing a ban. Ban in place in Brooklyn.
 
Oklahoma
 No
 Bill to introduce ban failed in May 1999. Legislation prevents local councils enacting their own ban.
 
Oregon
 No
 A new bill enacted in Jan 2002 forbids the local governments from implementing their own cell phone ban.
 
Pennsylvania
 Partial
 Local cities have their own laws - state legislation pending
 
Rhode Island
 No
 Governor Almond rejected a ban - July 2001. School buses are banned from using a cell phone. Proposal for a ban being debated, April 2004.
 
South Carolina
 No
 
South Dakota
 No
 
Tennessee
 Partial
 School buses are banned from using a cell phone
 
Texas
 No
 Senate Bill 154 proposed. If passed would come into effect from 2008. A previous attempt in 2005 failed
 
Utah
 No
 Bill to introduce ban failed March 1998. Highland city planning a ban - Feb 2005
 
Vermont
 No
 
Virginia
 Partial
 Bill banning minors passed Jan 2005. Bill banning 16-17yr olds with conditional licenses passed March 2007
 
Washington
 No
 Bill to introduce ban failed Jan 2001. New laws proposed Q1 2005
 
West Virginia
 No
 Bill proposed in 1999, but never debated
 
Wisconsin
 No
 Bill to introduce ban failed in April 1998. Bill to ban younger drivers only being debated.
 
Wyoming
 No
 Bill proposed by Rep. Floyd Esquibel but not debated

This page lists those countries that have banned the use of a cell phone when driving unless used with some form of hands-free kit.

Country Listings:

Australia
 Yes
 Banned in all states - fines vary though.
 
Austria
 Yes
 Fines vary - up to US$22 per incident
 
Bahrain Yes
 Offenders face fines - possibly prison

Belgium
 Yes
 Phones can be used without a hands-free unit when the car is stationary - but not while in traffic (such as at traffic lights)
 
Brazil
 Yes
 Ban imposed Jan. 2001
 
Botswana
 Being debated
 The attorney general is drafting the legislation
 
Canada
 Variable
 Banned in Newfoundland (Dec2002) fines up to US$180. Discussed again October 2006.
 
Chile
 Yes
  
China
 Yes
 Reported to be covered by general “good driving practice” legislation.
 
Czech Republic
 Yes
  
 Denmark
 Yes
 Ban imposed July 1998 - US$60 fine for infringements
 
Egypt
 Yes
 Fines of about US$100 per offence.
 
Finland
 Yes
 Ban imposed January 2003 - US$55 fine for infringements
 
France
 Yes
 Banned 2003, EUR40 fine per infraction
 
Germany
 Yes
 Ban imposed Feb. 2001 - usage allowed without a hands-free unit only when the engine is switched off. Fine of ?40 per infraction
 
Greece
 Yes
  
 Hong Kong
 Yes
 
Hungary
 Yes
 Not often implemented by the police
 
India - New Delhi
 Yes
 New Delhi - Ban extended to ban all use of cell phones when driving, including use with a hands-free unit - July 2001

Andhra Pradesh - Ban now enforced with prison sentences

 Ireland
 Yes
 Banned, with a US$380 and/or up to 3 months imprisonment on a third offence. Handsfree kits allowed, although that is subject to review.
 
Isle of Man
 Yes
 Banned since July 2000
 
Israel
 Yes
  
 Italy
 Yes
 Fines of up to US$124 per infraction
 
Japan
 Yes
 Ban imposed Nov. 1999
 
Jersey
 Yes
 Ban imposed Feb. 1998
 
Jordan
 Yes
 Ban imposed Oct. 2001
 
Kenya
 Yes
 Ban imposed late 2001
 
Malaysia
 Yes
 
Mexico
 Partial
 Ban in Mexico City
 
Netherlands
 Yes
 
New Zealand
 Being debated
 Under debate - consultation being sought from interested parties
 
Norway
 Yes
 Fines of over $600 per infraction
 
Pakistan
 Partial
 Banned in Islamabad
 
Philippines
 Yes
 
Poland
 Yes
 Fines can be as high as US$1,000
 
Portugal
 Yes
 
Romania
 Yes
 
Russia
 Yes
 Ban imposed by Prime Minister - March 2001
 
Singapore
 Yes
 
Slovak Republic
 Yes
 
Slovenia
 Yes
  
South Africa
 Yes
  
 South Korea
 Yes
 Ban imposed July 2001 - US$47 fine + 15 points on the license.
 
Spain
 Yes
 
Sweden
 Yes
  
 Switzerland
 Yes
  
 Taiwan
 Yes
 If the driver is using a reflective screen on the car, local privacy laws forbid stopping the car for violating the ban.
 
Thailand
 Yes
 Bill proposed in May 2000
 
Turkey
 Yes
 
Turkmenistan
 Yes
 Signed into law with effect from May 1st 2003, by President Saparmyrat Turkmenbasy
 
UK
 Yes
 Banned from December 2003
 
Zimbabwe
 Yes
 Ban imposed in Sept 2001, announced via official news agency only though, so not confirmed
 

Information is understood to be correct at the time of going to press - please notify us of any oversights by using the contact us option on the bottom menu.

As of May 24th 2007

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