Few citations issued for texting while driving
Associated Press
A driver looks at her cell phone while driving through the Financial District of Boston, Wednesday Dec. 14, 2011.
In this 2011 file photo, a driver uses an iPhone while driving.
We’ve all seen someone looking at a cell phone instead of having both hands on the wheel and eyes focused on the road ahead.
When the traffic light turns green, that motorist is still idling while reading an e-mail or text. Or that person is talking on the phone while driving at least 15 miles per hour slower on a windy country road like Route 857. Passing is restricted, so a line of cars builds up behind this chatty Cathy who won’t pull over.
State law allows a person to make and take cell phone calls, but not text or surf the Internet. Supported by the AAA, the law took effect in March 2012.
According to the AAA, Pennsylvania’s ban on text messaging:
n Prohibits, as a primary offense, all drivers from using an Interactive Wireless Communication Device (IWCD) to send, read or write a text message.
n Defines an IWCD as a wireless phone, personal digital assistant, smart phone, portable or mobile computer or similar devices that can be used for texting, instant messaging, emailing or browsing the internet.
n Defines a text-based message as a text message, instant message email or other written communication composed or received on an IWCD.
n Institutes a $50 fine for convictions.
n Makes clear that this law supersedes and preempts any local ordinances restricting the use of interactive wireless devices by drivers.
State police encourage people to drive safely and report that there is not much of a problem with texting while driving in the area.
“We have not noticed that it has been a problem here in Fayette County,” said Trooper Stefani Plume, state police community service officer. “Although we do ask if a person was on their phone at the time of the crash and report those results to PennDOT (the state Department of Transportation), I am not aware of any crashes recently that were specifically caused from texting while driving. It is not only best, but it is the law to keep your hands on the wheel, and we always encourage people to pay attention to their surroundings. Crashes can happen quickly.”
According to the AAA, there were 57 distracted driver deaths in Pennsylvania in 2012, two fewer than the previous year. And PennDOT reports 1,096 crashes involving cellphones in 2012, compared to 1,152 crashes in 2011.
“The goal is to increase awareness of the dangerous practice of texting while driving,” said Theresa Podguski, legislative director, AAA East Central, in a release. “AAA advocates a combination of education, enforcement and awareness to change the dangerous habit of texting behind the wheel.”
Podguski said the law prohibits, as a primary offense, any driver from using an interactive wireless communication device to send, read or write a text-based communication while his or her vehicle is in motion. She said it’s tough to differentiate whether motorists are texting or dialing.
“AAA feels it is important to keep our attention on driving,” she said. “For example, if we take our eyes off the road for about two seconds, studies have shown that it doubles our chances of being involved in a collision.”
With regard to making or accepting phone calls, AAA said it more important to focus on the driving.
“There’s more involved than just making or taking a phone call, but possibly erratic driving,” Podguski said. “Our goal is to make drivers aware of the importance of not engaging in distracting tasks while driving. We have to keep our minds focused on the driving tasks at hand.”
In the second full year of the law being in effect, there were a total of 1,206 citations issued across the state. With the second year of the no-texting law in effect, most counties notched increases in the number of citations, or stayed close to par with the first year. According to the AAA, there weren’t that many citations issued during the first two years of the texting while driving ban in Fayette, Greene and Washington counties.
Fayette County had 11 citations between March 2012 and February 2013 and 10 citations issued between March 2013 and February. Greene County had five citations issued between March 2012 and February 2013 and another six issued between March 2013 and February.
Washington County reported 23 citations between March 2012 and Feb. 2013 and 38 between March 2013 and February, according to AAA data.
Allegheny County leads the state in the number of citations issued for texting while driving, according to an analysis by AAA. During the second year of Pennsylvania’s law against texting while driving (March 2013 through February), 126 texting citations were written, compared to 108 in the first year.
There was a bill introduced two weeks ago by State Sen. Rob Teplitz (D-Perry), SB 1289, which would further prohibit text-based communications and prohibits certain calls on hand-held mobile telephones. The bill was referred to the Senate Transportation Committee on March 14.
In contrast to Pennsylvania, West Virginia bans handheld cellphone usage and texting for motorists.
State lawmakers passed a bill in 2012 that made texting while driving illegal on July 1, 2012, and handheld cellphone use illegal in 2013.