1. California Texting and Driving Law April 16, 2014

2. Policy Identification California Vehicle Code 23123.5  Effective January 1, 2013  No electronic device while driving Exception to law  Hands-free devices Penalties  Infraction  Base fine 20 dollars  Additional offense 50 dollars Importance of law  62% of Californian’s thought texting and driving was largest traffic safety problem Introduction http://www.statesymbolsusa.org

3. History and Background Early 1900’s  Mobile radios in squad cars  Channel interference 1930’s  Congress created Federal Communications Commission (FCC)  Regulating radio frequencies 1940’s  First mobile radio service approved  Push to talk phone created by AT&T  Claimed as failure 1950’s  Radio Common Carriers (RCC) were authorized Introduction http://www.cio.com

4. History and Background 1970’s Advancements  Self-dialing was standard in United States  FCC allowed cell phone frequencies  First portable phone call  FCC encouraged advancements from cell phone industry Electric Company Lawsuit  Slowed cell phone company progress  Chicago cell phone testing 1980’s  FCC admitted to slowing down phone companies with lawsuit  Set parameters and guidelines  Cellular Technology Industry Association created Introduction

5. History and Background First Text Message  December 3, 1992  From Neil Papworth’s computer to Richard Jarvis’ mobile phone  Said ‘Merry Christmas’ New Style of Texting  December 10, 1995  Text on 9 Keys, T9 9000i Communicator  1997  Nokia  First cell phone with full keyboard  Car crash statistics Introduction http://buynokiamobile.blogspot.com/

6. History and Background Hands-free Technology  2001 studies  2002 studies Distracted Driving Studies  Harvard 2002  Harvard 2005  University of Utah 2006 Effects of Using Cell Phones While Driving  5.36 times more likely to crash  9% slower to hit brakes  24% increase in variation of following distance  19% slower to accelerate back to normal speed Introduction http://techchannel.radioshack.com

7. History and Background Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association  2006  Over 100 million motorist use cell phones while driving National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA)  2006  8% drivers talking on phone  Up 2% from 2002 December 2007  More texts than phone calls Legislation  No texting bans as of 2007  Both political parties have supported cell phone industry Introduction

9. Current Situation Barack Obama 2008 Smart Phones 2008  15% of Americans owned  310 texts per month National Safety Council  1.4 million car accidents  200,000 car accidents  1.6 million total NHTSA and US Department of Transportation  Distracted driving awareness ABC reports 2010  Crash statistics in California, Louisiana, Minnesota, and Washington http://latimesblogs.latimes.com

10. Current Situation New California legislation  Vehicle Code 23124  January 1, 2014  Under 18 no hands free  Secondary law Punishments  Infraction  Base fine 20 dollars  Additional offense 50 dollars Economic  Vehicle Code 23123 effective January 1, 2009  Collision claims

11. Differing Viewpoint #1 Prevention and Awareness Government web campaign  www.distraction.gov  Stop the Texts, Stop the Wrecks NHTSA and Parent Teacher Association (PTA)  Inform parents about young drivers  Discuss dangers  Phone bill Preventative measures paired with enforcement  Parent  Teachers  Law enforcement http://www.noys.org

12. Differing Viewpoint #2 Law Enforcement Beliefs  Dangerous Catching drivers  Massachusetts Police Department  275,000 dollar grant  Undercover policemen Law enforcement paired with Awareness  www.distraction.gov  Stop the Texts, Stop the Wrecks http://www.mlive.com

13. Compare and Contrast Similarities Distracted Driving is dangerous Can’t have one without the other Differences Proactive Reactive

14. Recommendation California Legislation Driving Offenses Vehicle Code 23123.5 Partially effective  California vs. Arizona  Hands-free operation  Dangerous  Increase in accidents  Insurance Claims Amend Section ‘A’  Hands-free  Unintended Consequences  Emergencies  Vehicle Code 23124  Political Support http://wfpl.org

15. Conclusion California Vehicle Code 23123.5  No electronic devices  Except with hands free feature Texting and driving bans  Several states around the country Recent studies prove  Hands free is just as dangerous Proactive and Reactive  Both sides are important  Work together This law is partially effective

16. Thank You! Any Questions?