Another reason to use hands-free devices

Besides using a cell phone against your ear is illegal in Washington State:

• Seattle PI: “Hang up and drive: Ban on hand-held cell phones begins”
• KUOW: “New WA Law: Plug in that Handset and Drive”

Not just Washington .. most states around the country agree, per USA Today: “More states say cellphones and driving don’t mix”.

Note that these articles were from 2008 .. when the law was first enacted. At the time, it was a ‘secondary offense’ in Washington state .. that is, you could not be pulled over for using a cell phone without a hands-free device, but using one while committing another offense (speeding, moving violation) would result in a far stiffer fine.

As of March 26, 2010, using a device to text or talk is a primary offense, per the Driving Laws site: “Washington – 2010 Update – Governor Signs New Bill into Law”. The Hands-Free Info site reprints the restrictions for us in “Washington state: Cell phone laws, legislation”, summarized here:

• Drivers are prohibited from holding cell phones and other wireless communications devices to their ears.
• Teenage drivers are barred from using all cell phones and other wireless communications devices.
• Drivers are prohibited from text messaging (mc: this just seems like common sense).

So .. don’t do that stuff here, please and thank you.

Let’s pile on, shall we? The Washington Post reports lawmakers are pushing for federal review of cell phone usage .. seems it’s been ten years since the last review, and the radiation from the device is still at issue. Motivation includes the World Health Organization, statements from Motorola and citations taken from the Blackberry manual:

(devices) “SHOULD NOT be worn or carried on the body” without a BlackBerry-approved belt clip.”

.. this doesn’t sound like they’re trying to sell belt clips.

So, hang up and drive .. get yourself a hands-free device as soon as you can.

Read more from the Post: “Lawmakers urge federal review of cell phones”.