Jay High School Bulldogs: December 2010

On November 1, 2010, a new law went into effect that will crack down on young drivers using handheld devices while driving.

SB 1908, authored by 10 legislators, including Sen. Anthony Sykes,

applies to drivers with learner permits and intermediate Class D

licenses, or drivers between the ages of 15 and 18 years old.

The law reads that these licenses may be suspended or canceled for

"using a hand-held electronic device while operating a motor vehicle

for non-life-threatening emergency purposes."

According to the bill, a hand-held electronic device is defined as a

"mobile telephone or electronic device with which a user engages in a

telephone call, plays or stores media, including, but not limited to

music and video, or sends or reads a text message while requiring the

use of at least one hand."

Driving Dangers

According to cellphonesafety.org, there are two types of cell phone

behavior that typically lead to unsafe driving conditions:

Handling the phone: dialing, answering, text messaging, etc.

The conversation introduced to the environment.

The National Safety Council has tested cellular phone use while

driving and found that some test subjects were so distracted that they

were unaware of traffic signals.

The results were unaffected by whether the subject manually held the

phone or if the mechanism was hands free, a reason why some believe

hands-free initiatives are a weak and ineffectual way to control cell

phone use while driving, and allegations that use of a cell phone

impairs a driver's ability as much as driving drunk, according to

Teen Text Talk

When it comes to cell phones, teens comprise perhaps the largest

population of drivers distracted by dialing and text messaging.

Texting, as it is called, is the number one way teens communicate with

friends quickly and conveniently via cell phone, reports [

The website claims that not only is texting a major cause of driving

incidents among teens, but most of them know it. "While this may seem

alarming, it's not out of line with the typical

it's-not-gonna-happen-to-me sensibility of most young adults. Combine

this activity with the fact that most teens lack the driving

experience and savvy of more mature drivers and the situation is potentially volatile."

For more information, visit www.cellphonesafety.org

Jay High School Bulldogs