New Hands-Free Driving Law in Virginia
On January 1, 2021, a new Virginia law went into effect making it illegal to use any handheld personal communication device while driving a moving motor vehicle, except for the following:
- The operator of any emergency vehicle while he is engaged in the performance of his official duties;
- An operator who is lawfully parked or stopped;
- Any person using a handheld personal communications device to report an emergency;
- The use of an amateur or a citizens band radio; or
- The operator of any Department of Transportation vehicle or vehicle operated pursuant to the Department of Transportation safety service patrol program or pursuant to a contract with the Department of Transportation for, or that includes, traffic incident management services during the performance of traffic incident management services.
This expounds upon the previous law which prohibited drivers from texting and driving or reading emails while operating the vehicle. The old law was difficult to enforce, as it did not cover someone using social media and driving, or searching through music, or even taking photographs. Now it encompasses any hands held phone usage.
Roanoke County police Sgt. Spencer Hoopers said that, “The ultimate goal here is safety on the roadway.” Regardless of why you are looking at your phone, Sgt. Hoopes says, “all of which pose a potential distraction.” Distracted driving is a leading cause of accidents on the road according to a study by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute.
While the police have been doing their part to educate officers and drivers on the new law, as of January 28th, the Roanoke County Police Department have already issued 30 citations to drivers violating the new law and using their cell phones while driving.
Here is an informative video about the new law from DRIVE SMART Virginia:
If you have been hurt by a distracted driver, then you need to contact an experienced car accident attorney as soon as possible who can gather evidence to build a solid case and help you get the compensation you deserve.
Hilton & Somer, LLC: Car Accident Lawyers Serving Virginia, Maryland, & Washington D.C.
Have you been injured in a car accident caused by a distracted driver using a cell phone? Are you having anxiety about how you will pay your doctors’ bills and other car accident-related expenses? You do not have to face this unfortunate circumstance alone! Contact the Motor Vehicle Accident Lawyers at Hilton & Somer now for a free consultation via our online contact form, or by calling (703) 560-0700.
References for “New Hands-Free Driving Law in Virginia”:
https://www.drivesmartva.org/about-dsv/annual-report/
https://www.drivesmartva.org/current-projects/phone-down-its-the-law/
