Full question:
Under the laws of Virginia, is it an offence to use the cell phone while driving?
- Category: Automobiles
- Subcategory: Traffic Laws
- Date:
- State: Virginia
Answer:
Use of cellular phone while driving is generally not prohibited in Virginia. However, drivers younger than 18 are prohibited from using hand held cell phone while driving. School bus drivers are also specifically banned from using the cell phone while driving. Virginia law bans texting by all the drivers while driving. The nature of enforcement is primary for school bus drivers and secondary for others. Violations of the law will result in a $20 fine for the first offense and a $50 fine for a second or subsequent offense.
Generally, talking on a mobile phone while driving cause a driver to be distracted and increases the chance of accidents. Because of this, many state and local governments have made it illegal to use a cell phone while driving.
There is a popular misconception that driving while using a hands-free device is safer than using a hand held cell phone. A study by the Transport Research Laboratory concluded that hands-free phone conversations impair driving performance more than other distractions such as passenger conversations.
The consistency of increased crash risk between hands-free and hand held cell phone use is at odds with legislation that prohibits hand held cell phone use but allows hands-free. In the United States, hands free use of a cell phone while driving is not prohibited in any state. Since dialing buttons on a cell phone is more distracting than talking on a cell phone, hands-free devices that offer voice-dialing may reduce the risk of accidents to a limited extent.
Texting is even more distracting because texting causes a driver to take his/her eyes off the road in contrast to talking on the mobile while driving where the driver though distracted need not take his eyes off the road (except when dialling). Text messaging is banned for all drivers in 14 states and the District of Columbia.
This content is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Legal statutes mentioned reflect the law at the time the content was written and may no longer be current. Always verify the latest version of the law before relying on it.
