Due to the increasing number of road traffic accidents due to the use of mobile phone while driving, more and more countries have been imposing a ban. A study has even declared driving while talking on the phone worse than driving drunk.
In the US, restrictive legislations has been proposed but, apparently, only New York State, Connecticut, New Jersey and Washington DC have actually passed laws regarding the use of cellphones and driving.
In Europe, hand-held cell phone use while driving is prohibited. In Spain, even headsets are not allowed. Should you be caught, you would have to pay a fine:
- Belgium - from 100€
- Bulgaria - 15€
- Denmark - 67€
- Germany - 40€
- Finland - up to 78€
- France - from 22€
- Greece - up to 150€
- UK - 44€
- Ireland - 60€
- Italy - from 71€
- Croatia - 70€
- Lithuania - up to 12€
- Luxembourg - up to 74€
- Netherlands - 130€
- Norway - 165€
- Austria - from 25€
- Portugal - from 120€
- Switzerland - 64€
- Slovenia - 85€
- Spain - up to 90€
- Hungary - up
Some fines may not amount to much BUT your life definitely is more important than a missed phone call. In any case, should you need to take a phone call, get off the road!
The list of places in the U.S. where it's illegal to drive and talk is longer.
Many cities have enacted hands-free cellphone laws for drivers. It's not always at the state level. (A federal law has also been proposed, but I doubt we'll see passage anytime soon.)
Chicago, for example, prohibits driving and holding a phone. Some surrounding suburbs demand a hands-free headset as well, but others don't. It's rather confusing.
Posted by: Better Living Through Miles | June 18, 2006 2:31 PM | Permalink to Comment