New Bicycle Laws Would Prevent Accidents from Cell Phone Use in California
If a proposed new bill goes through, bicyclists in California will be subjected to the same hands-free cell phone use laws that apply to motorists in the state.
A new piece of legislation proposes extending the ban on text messaging or use of a hand-held cell phone while driving to California’s bicyclists. The legislation has been introduced by Sen. Joe Simitian, who was the man behind California’s law banning the use of hand-held cell phones while driving. Sen. Joe Simitian has introduced a piece of legislation that would heavily increase fines and penalties on violators of the hand-held cell phone and text messaging while driving bans.
Under the law, a bicyclist in California found texting while riding, or having a conversation on a handheld cell phone will be fined between $20 and $50 for talking on a cell phone while riding, and between $20 and $100 for text messaging while biking. These are the exact same fines that will be levied on motorists who are caught violating the bans. Besides, the law that the senator proposes will add a point to the record of the violator. According to the senator, California’s current cell phone laws rely heavily on light penalties. A motorist, who finds that the fine is not too heavy and will not result in a mark on his record, is more likely to violate the law. However, the threat of having a point on a record may coerce motorists to switch off the cell phone while driving.
Support for the cell phone ban for bicyclists is strong among bicycle accident lawyers in California and bicyclists. You don’t need more studies to prove the dangers that are at play when you talk on a cell phone while biking, or use it to send or receive text messages. Bicyclists must understand that they place themselves at greater risk of an accident if they’re distracted while riding. Studies conducted by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute have shown that the risk of an accident for a motorist, who is text messaging while driving his car, is up to 20 times greater than if he’s not. Other studies have also shown the heavy risk of accidents for drivers using cell phones while driving. A biker is at a much higher risk of injuries in an accident than a motorist. Ultimately, the law will serve to protect bicyclists from the severe injuries they can expect if they crash into another vehicle or object, because they were riding while talking or text messaging.
The law isn’t meant to corner bicyclists, or put them in an inconvenient position. It is meant to protect them from the kind of risks they will face from distracted riding. The heavy fines and penalties that will apply to motorists and bicyclists who are caught violating the laws should also be encouraged by injury lawyers in California and auto safety advocates. Ultimately, a bicyclist stands to lose the most in any accident that he is involved in.
The Reeves Law Group is a law firm with offices throughout California dedicated exclusively to the representation of personal injury victims, including victims of bicycle accidents. Please visit our website at trlglaw.com. If you desire a free consultation on a personal injury matter, please call us at (800) 644-8000 or email us.
The Reeves Law Group is not acting as legal counsel for any party in the matters discussed in this posting.
