Distracted driving is a topic that has received a lot of attention in recent years. This is true in West Virginia as well as throughout the rest of the country. Over the course of time, different states have been creating laws to address this dangerous problem. West Virginia was not one of the first to take such action but finally did in 2013 according to Hands Free Information.
Records from the state Department of Motor Vehicles indicate that 325 people died in motor vehicle collisions in West Virginia in 2013. The following year, that number dropped to 271 but still represents many lives lost and loved ones left to grieve. The state is crediting its distracted driving law with the reduction in automotive fatalities. As reported by the Governor’s Highway Safety Program, distracted driving was identified as the primary factor in vehicle crashes in the state.
West Virginia’s distracted driving law prohibits any teen driver with a permit or intermediate driver’s license from using a cell phone while driving. This includes the use of hands-free headsets as well as handheld use. Other drivers may use hands-free devices. The one exception to this is for school bus drivers who cannot use phones while they are driving. Drivers can be fined and receive points on their licenses for violating the state’s cell phone while driving law.
If you would like to learn more about West Virginia’s laws on cell phone use while driving, please feel free to visit the distracted driving page of our personal injury website.
