New York Car Insurance: Cell Phone Law - Better Safe Than Sorry

Over the past decade, cell phones have evolved from luxury items to absolute necessities for most on-the-go Americans. Consumers now use cell phones not only for business and personal calls but also to text message, take pictures, and even listen to their favorite music. The omnipresent nature of cell phones is not, however, without a price as the National Traffic and Highway Safety Administration (NTHSA) estimates cell phone-related car accidents are on the rise with distracted drivers causing over 25% of all police-reported traffic accidents.

Concerned with the impact of cell phone use on driving safety, New York lawmakers have enacted cell phone laws banning the following types of drivers from using cell phones while driving:

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• Learner`s permit holders
• Drivers younger than 18 years old
• School bus drivers

New York has also implemented a state-wide ban on the use of hand-held cell phones while driving. Connecticut, New Jersey, and the District of Columbia have implemented similar state-wide bans on hand-held cell phone use in an effort to reduce cell phone-related traffic accidents. Drivers caught using a hand-held cell phone while driving in New York will face a $100 fine.

If you must use a cell phone in your car in New York, safety experts recommend that you follow the following guidelines:

• Use a hands-free phone
• Keep your eyes on the road at all times
• Never dial while driving
• Avoid using your phone in bad weather or heavy traffic
• Avoid stressful conversations while driving
• Never look up phone numbers while driving

For the latest information on New York's cell phone laws as well as the cell phone laws of other states, please visit the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety or the Governors Highway Safety Association.