Bob told us “the times they are a changin’.” The smart-phone has gone from a luxury item to a near necessity overnight, and our ways of communicating are evolving just as rapidly. And although the maturity of the text message, mobile upload, and smart-phone email account are all great milestones in the story of efficient communication, the tragic downside is clearly visible on America’s roadways.
The National Safety Council concluded after extensive research that a minimum of 200,000 automobile accidents each year are due to texting behind the wheel, and 1.6 million are related to cell phone use in general.
Statistics such as these have been the major driving force behind the Massachusetts legislature’s initiative to curb cell-phone related accidents. This Thursday September 30th, the new MA Safe Driving Law will take effect, and Massachusetts will become the 30th state to take a stand against improper cell-phone use behind the wheel.
With the inception of the new MA law, reading or writing text messages will become a civil offense (no insurance surcharge) and individuals will be met with increasing fines each time they are caught in violation. Using an email account, browsing the internet, or using any other smart-phone application stipulated to be a distraction from the road are all covered under this law as well.
A separate clause of the law makes it illegal for junior operators to use cell-phones all together. Violators of this article will be punished not only with fines, but with license suspension and a mandated attitudinal course as well.
Although we all hope that these new laws will curb automobile accidents in the commonwealth, we must remain conscious of the fact that people always have – and always will – choose to ignore legislation regarding driving conduct. While this new law will stop many from texting behind the wheel, those who ignore it will join the speeders and drunk-drivers as Massachusetts newest breed of criminal automobilists.
So don’t let down your guard, and protect your family and yourself with MA Auto Insurance and Encharter Insurance. Visit us online at www.encharter.com , call 888-258-7655 to speak to an agent, or find us on Facebook and Twitter.
And remember, at Encharter, “It’s all about protecting you!”
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