Orono Reacts to the Distracted Driver Law

In Orono many citizens have varying opinions about Maine’s new distracted driver law.

The intention of the law is to make the roads safer and to keep people’s attention on their driving, not on other things. Statistics show that cell phones cause a lot of motor vehicle accidents. Maine is also one of many states now taking action in trying to prevent these accidents by banning cell phone use.

California, Connecticut, New Jersey, Washington, New York and Michigan already have bans on handheld devices while driving.

Maine’s law went into effect recently and many Maine residents are not yet familiar with it and how it affects their lives. The law in Maine is set up not only to ban cell phones but any major distraction that the driver engages in. This can include applying makeup, reading the paper or using a cell phone.

The law is designed to be an additional fine to any driving infraction if the officer can find that the driver suffered from a distraction. This law makes distracted driving a secondary violation.

Cell phone use is the most common of all of these distractions and what comes to mind first for most Maine residents. In Orono a lot of people expressed concern that cell phone use really is causing a danger on the roads and can understand why this law was put into effect.



Some Orono residents also admit that they frequently use their cell phones while they drive. They also say that it would be difficult for them to stop using their cell phones while they are driving their cars.



Other residents of Orono do not think that this law is necessary and that cell phone use is not really that dangerous. They also say that this law will not stop them from using their cell phones while they are driving.



Whether Orono residents agree with this new law or not, they will all have to live with it and adjust their driving habits.