Kentucky, are you ready for tougher texting laws? A poll conducted by the National Safety Council (NSC) revealed 73% of the respondents think that there should be more enforcement on texting laws. There were only 22% who were fine with the current level of enforcement. In a report published on March 31, 2014 on WVXU.org, Kentucky transportation officials stated driving and texting has reached epidemic levels and part of the cure is more enforcement. They added that people should know that police are serious about putting an end to this fatal behavior. In fact, Kentucky police are cracking down on motorists who are texting while driving. This was part of the nationwide U Drive. U Text. U Pay. campaign and the National Distracted Driving Awareness Month celebrated last April.
Related: Texting and Driving Is Very Annoying
Kentucky texting law
Our texting law in Kentucky took effect on April 15, 2010. Texting is banned for drivers of all ages while the vehicle is in motion. However, drivers 18 and older can use GPS devices and hands-free devices to make calls. There are consequences for texting and driving. A first offense violation comes with a $25 fine, then it’s $50 for each subsequent violation, as well as court costs. It’s costly to be caught texting while driving. Along with fines, law enforcement has considered implementing a point system that could lead to a driver losing their license if they reach a certain amount of points.
Results of NSC’s survey
The result of the NSC survey is a positive one because it shows people’s willingness to join in on the fight against cell phone use while driving. More than that, this shows that people are aware it takes more than commercials and campaign ads to get people to change. This serious event takes action because awareness is nothing without action. When you think about it, there is really nothing to fear about the stringent law enforcement if you’re following the rules.
As a Kentucky Accident Attorney, I believe more enforcement on texting while driving is a great idea. If there are harsher punishments in place, then people are more likely to stop that action. This would help decrease auto accidents from distracted drivers. There is no better time to start implementing this than now.