An electronic road sign at the Delaware state line on Route 40 in Glasgow
this week warned motorists Wednesday that a new law will take effect in the
First State on Jan. 2. The law makes it illegal to talk or text on a
hand-held electronic device while driving. Similar signs have popped up
throughout the state.
Police in Delaware will be able to stop and cite drivers solely for
violating the ban. In Maryland, where a similar ban took effect Oct. 1,
violations are considered a "secondary offense," meaning citations only
will be issued in addition to other charges. In the early going, police
reported few violations in neighboring northeastern Maryland. While
considered a secondary offense, police do have the power to pull over
vehicles for what is considered to be negligent driving.
The Delaware and Maryland laws do contain provisions that allow use of
the handsets in emergency situations. Delaware also allows those using
radios attached to dashboards or other parts of the vehicle to be used.
Motorists can use hands free devices that allow calls to be made or
taken via voice commands, although safety experts note that it is best
not to make calls. That's due to evidence that the distraction caused
by the conversation that can be as risky as holding the handset.