In Washington, it’s already against the law to text or hold a cellphone up to your ear while driving. The law is silent, however, when it comes to posting a status update on Facebook, or refreshing an Instagram feed while on the highway.
But on Wednesday, the state House approved Senate Bill 5289 championed by Sen. Ann Rivers, R-La Center, that would expand the prohibition when it comes to using cellphones and other handheld devices while driving.
“Some drivers clearly need new motivation to keep at least one hand on the steering wheel and their eyes looking ahead. Who hasn’t seen bad behavior on the road because of a handheld device?” Rivers said in a statement.
The measure would ban drivers from using a phone or tablet while driving. That means no texting, looking at received texts messages, photographs or watching videos. It does allow the use of a finger to start or end a function of the phone, so using a finger to start or end a hands-free call would be considered legal.
The bill now goes back to the Senate for a concurrence vote, before heading to the governor’s desk.
Rep. Sharon Wylie, D-Vancouver, said the vote was easy for her.
“The evidence that distractions from our devices is equivalent to drunk driving and responsible for increasing numbers of fatalities was extremely compelling,” Wylie said.
The first offense under this measure carries a fine of $136. For a second offense, this measure increases the penalty to $235.
As it’s currently drafted, the measure would not prohibit ham or band radios and the first offense would not be reported to insurance companies.
Nearly 3,480 people were killed in 2015 from distracted driving, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Last month a 20-year-old driver of a truck was reportedly texting in Texas when he collided with a minibus, killing 13 members of a church group on board.
Rep. Jessyn Farrell, D-Seattle, who sponsored the companion measure House Bill 1371, said the law is overdue.
“This bill is about saving lives. We love our phones, and we are just not putting them down,” Farrell said in a statement. “It will now be against the law to use a personal electronic device in any way while driving, with the exception of a single finger to initiate or end a function like hands-free calling.”
