Posted on 02/09/2007 6:01:59 AM PST by Calpernia
Police would be required to note the specific source of distracted driving on accident reports under a bill being considered by the New Jersey State Assembly. The legislation is designed to give lawmakers a clearer picture of what causes crashes before they would consider further restrictions. Talking on a hand-held cell phone while driving is already illegal in New Jersey. However, a prime sponsor of the bill admits tracking in-car distractions may be inexact.
"I'm not sure someone's going to get out of a car after a crash and say, 'Yeah, it was me on the cell phone,'" said State Assemblyman John Wisniewski (D-Middlesex). "The legislation is designed to provide a statistical tool to use to understand the types of distractions that are causing accidents so that we have a factual basis upon which to legislate to make our roads safer."
Currently, police may note a driver in a crash was distracted. The bill would require the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission to modify the traffic accident report form it supplies to police departments to include a space for officers to indicate what type of distraction was involved.
Under the bill, pagers, GPS mapping devices, car stereos (terrestrial and satellite), CD players, MP3 players, video players, CB and dispatch radios, fatigue, personal grooming, food and beverage consumption, reading, and unsecured pets all would be considered driver distractions.
New Jersey Authorities See Opportunity to Expand DNA Database
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