Gov. Nathan Deal signs distracted driving bill into law

[TexasTowelie]

Gov. Nathan Deal signed Georgia’s distracted driving bill into law Wednesday flanked by family members of Georgia Southern University nursing students who were killed in a multi-vehicle accident on Interstate 16 in 2015.

House Bill 673 is designed to toughen laws about people using cell phones and other mobile devices while driving starting July 1. The bill was introduced by Rep. John Carson, R-Marietta, but it was carried in the Senate by Sen. P.K. Martin, R-Lawrenceville.

Deal signed the bill into law in Statesboro while he was in the town to also sign the state budget into law.

“I am honored to sign this Hands-Free legislation here in this community, the home of Georgia Southern,” Deal said. “It’s aim is to decrease distracted driving by prohibiting the use of wireless telecommunication devices while on any public roads on our state.

Read more: http://www.gwinnettdailypost.com/news/state/gov-nathan-deal-signs-distracted-driving-bill-into-law/article_7153a0ef-9d57-51e4-ae7f-d81a0b8cad1c.html

[cstanleytech]

1. I see a potential wrinkle in it

"A driver can listen to music stored on their cell phone or electronic device, but they would be barred from using online radio programs such as Spotify or Pandora in their vehicle."
I know a new rental car I had 2 months ago had the option to use those apps from the phone so they are going to need to update that to allow their usage if of course the law is entirely banning their usage.

[Thekaspervote]

2. Great news! We have pretty much the same bill here in Il...stats show it has worked well

[Hortensis]

4. Good to hear.

[rgbecker]

3. Amazing what can be done to prevent death on the highway...

Yet nothing to stop the 30,000 firearm deaths (almost equal to traffic deaths) that have become business as usual in the USA.

No licensing, no registration, no required training, no restrictions on these tools of destruction.

[Nitram]

5. Cell phone use isn't mentioned in the Bill of Rights. Of course, neither are AR-15s.

[Hortensis]

6. Yes to using GPS and radio with hands. Yes to using hands to report an accident,

medical emergency, or hazardous road condition. Yes to while lawfully parked (not stopped as at lights).

No to use of prohibited devices with any part of the body, so no loophole for texting with toes, and also no to moving from normal driving position, so no leaning over to pick the phone up from the floor.

Sounds sensible. Penalty for first offense only $50, don't know about second. But tougher penalties were stripped to get it passed.

WORKER EFFECT: We're rural now, retired and semiretired, so I didn't really clue to the fact that these days many of the people making long commutes to and from workplaces are working intensively as they drive via their phones. I imagine most are not paid for their additional productivity that technology has made possible to get out of them. Lessened worker productivity while commuting was an argument against passage. Having hands-free technology is obviously going to become a requirement for many jobs. I'm guessing the insurers of many companies already require it for some of the drivers they cover.

[ecstatic]

7. "barred from using online radio programs

A driver can listen to music stored on their cell phone or electronic device, but they would be barred from using online radio programs such as Spotify or Pandora in their vehicle.

I hope the article is mistaken. That's all I listen to. Modern cars allows for Bluetooth control of the music player controls, like fast forward, etc. The app is controllable through car buttons on steering wheel, etc. This sounds like a huge gotcha game.