Under California traffic laws, cellphones may only be utilized by a driver in certain ways and at certain times. The ages of the drivers also affect how they may use their phones.
These laws are necessary to combat the number one distraction for drivers on California streets and freeways. Cellphone texts, emails, calls, and even mobile games can pull motorists’ attention from the roadway and turn a car into a rolling threat to other travelers.
Victims, California families, and California communities pay a terrible price for careless drivers who cause dangerous accidents while staring at a cell phone. The California Department of Motor Vehicles reported over 426,000 handheld cell phone and texting convictions in a single year including around 57,000 tickets issued in a single month.
Cell Phone Laws on California Freeways
In California, it is illegal to drive a motor vehicle while holding a cellphone in your hand. It is okay for adults to make calls or use voice commands to text with the help of a hands-free operation.
The hands-free mode must be activated with a single swipe or touch of the phone.
There are also state guidelines on the location of your cellphone.
- It must be mounted on the windshield, dashboard, or center console.
- It cannot block your view of the road.
While hands-free use is permitted, drivers are still responsible to reduce distraction as much as possible. They are encouraged to avoid long phone calls or calls that could make them become emotional and therefore distracted. Never use your cell phone during hazardous conditions.
California Cell Phone Laws for Minors
If you are under 18-years-old and driving, cellphone use is illegal, even when it’s in hands-free mode. Minors may not text or make calls while behind the wheel.
Minors may only use their cell phones to call certain emergency entities. They can use their cellphones to call these and other emergency care providers:
- Law enforcement.
- A health care provider.
- The fire department.
Receiving Support After a Distracted Driver Accident
Drivers who choose to travel while distracted by a phone call or a text message can do serious harm to other motorists and passengers and can even put their lives at risk.
Victims may spot drivers on their cellphones just before a collision. Witnesses to an accident may also testify to seeing the at-fault driver on a cell phone. Cellphone records could also prove that a driver was distracted during a crash.
Victims trying to recover can file a claim for damages against a careless driver and seek help with the costs of medical care and reimbursement for lost wages while away from work.
Families who have had a loved one taken from them after a mistake made by a careless driver can file a wrongful death claim. This civil claim attempts to secure support for the costs of a funeral and to pay emergency response fees. This claim also offers support to stabilize the families in the years to come when they’ll be without the financial support the deceased can no longer provide.
