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| ODOT News |
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Attention teens: new law prohibits use of cell phones while driving
Dec. 20, 2007
For more information, contact Shelley Snow (503) 986-3438 or Troy Costales (503) 986-4192
New driver? Just learning to drive? You’ll want to put your cell phone away. A new law, House Bill 2872, goes into effect Jan. 1 prohibiting a driver less than 18 years of age who holds a provisional driver license, student permit or instructional permit from using mobile communication devices — like cell phones — while driving. Similar prohibited items include two-way, wireless and texting devices (both hand-held and hands-free).
The only exceptions are if the driver is summoning emergency assistance or engaged in farming activities.
The new law, recommended by the National Transportation Safety Board, serves as an enhancement to Oregon’s graduated driver license program by removing another potential distraction. Oregon’s program for young drivers already limits some distractions, such as who can be in the vehicle and what hours teens can drive.
Oregon’s teen driving program, with its various limitations, has reduced the number of fatal and injury crashes involving teen drivers by more than 40 percent since it was implemented. According to the NTSB, a ban on cell phones for teens may further reduce the number of crashes involving teen drivers.
If a teen is operating a motor vehicle while using a mobile communication device, it is a Class D traffic violation with a $97 fine. A conviction is also placed on the driver’s record and counts toward the driver improvement program and/or the habitual offenders program.
ODOT’s Transportation Safety Division is working with driver education programs and DMV field offices around the state to educate teens and parents about the new law. If you or your teen driver needs more information about the law, visit the Oregon Legislature Web site, or visit DMV’s teen driving Web page.
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