Distracted Driving

The House Transportation Committee has rejected a bill (HB 546) that prohibited the use of hand-held cell phones while driving a vehicle.

Following a 10-4 against the bill on March 15, committee member Rep. Lisa E. Scontsas said, "The negligent driving statue already covers this type of distraction. As a committee we are going to work on this statue to be more effective. There are many distractions on the road today. We must try to make people understand that they need to be more responsible while driving." (see House Journal 30)

New Hampshire is one of 30 states with a law prohibiting texting-while-driving.

Under the new state law (enacted in 2010), drivers caught texting are subject to a $100 fine.

Proponents of the law argue that it will decrease accidents, while opponents contend that it's too difficult to enforce and there is already a negligent driving law on the books.

For an officer to prove a violation, the driver must consent to a check of the phone log or the officer must present a search warrant.

According to the New Hampshire Safety Administration, twenty-nine percent of fatal accidents in 2010 were caused by distracted drivers.

The National Transportation Safety Board has called for a ban on all cell phone use by drivers, including wireless and hands-free devices.