In West Virginia adult drivers are still allowed to type messages into their cell phones while on the road, but in nearby Kentucky this will soon change.
As of January 1, 2011 drivers in Kentucky can be fined if they’re caught texting while driving, and people under 18 could be fined if they’re caught using their cell phones at all.
Violators will be liable for fines of $25 on a first offense and $50 on each subsequent offense, plus court costs.
Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear signed the law in April. Currently, 30 states and the District of Columbia ban text messaging while driving.
In West Virginia laws to ban text messaging while driving stalled during last winter's legislative session. It is illegal for anyone under age 18 to use cell phones while driving.
If you're not already convinced that driving a car and trying to tap out a message on a tiny keyboard is a poor match, perhaps the short documentary AT&T has just released will convince you otherwise. The carrier is launching a campaign geared towards teens over the holidays leading up to New Year's Eve in the hopes that the youth of the world will be slightly less sure of their invincibility -- at least where car driving and text messaging is concerned.
The West Virginia Legislature will convene next month. Hopefully they will attempt to address distracted driving, especially driving while text-messaging. Lawmakers declined to take any action last year, and residents in other states have noticed.
Reporter Christine Miller Ford found that Maryland's restrictions on cell phone use and text-messaging have caused some Eastern Panhandle motorists to change their driving habits when they enter Maryland. Some now use hands-free devices. But she also found that some drivers now see West Virginia as a place where they can text-message while driving and realize no consequences.
Most West Virginians certainly understand the risks associated with distracted driving. A motorist who pushes buttons on a tiny keyboard while driving a motor vehicle cannot be fully mindful of that family in the approaching minivan.
While simply passing laws will not solve each and every problem, letting motorists know that high-risk behavior is unlawful is the appropriate step to take. Such a legislative initiative won't cause every irresponsible driver to change his or her behavior, but it certainly could save some lives.
For more information: http://wtrf.com/story.cfm?func=viewstory&storyid=86843
If you or someone you know has been seriously injured or killed in an automobile accident, contact the West Virginia Auto Accident Attorneys of Colombo & Stuhr PLLC at 800-860-1414.
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