Legislation In Springfield Could Take Cellphone Driving Ban Statewide

By Chuck Sudo in News on Jan 19, 2012 3:45PM

Our friends over at The Expired Meter report that legislation was introduced in the Illinois General Assembly that, if passed, would make the Land of Lincoln the tenth state to impose a statewide ban on cellphone use while driving.

State Rep. John D'Amico (15th, D-Chicago) introduced HB3972, which would amend the Illinois Vehicle Code so that drivers may not talk on their cellphones except in a hands-free capacity. D'Amico is chair of the House Vehicles, Transportation and Safety Committee and, under his leadership, Illinois has sponsored many bills that impact driver safety including the graduated driver law, the state’s ban on texting while driving, and cellphone ban in school zones and road work zones. D'Amico told The Expired Meter:

“You are eight to 23 times more likely to be in an accident while talking on a cellphone. My interest is in trying to make Illinois roads as safe as possible. Our last two years in Illinois have had the lowest fatalities since 1921.”

Currently, Chicago and Evanston are the only cities in Illinois that have implemented a cellphone ban. Chicago's cellphone driving ban led to a record number of tickets issued in 2010. But they're are administrative tickets—essentially the equivalent of a parking ticket—and not considered a moving violation. D'Amico's bill aims to make driving while using your cellphone a moving violation. "“What we want to do is put some teeth into it and make it a ticketable offense," he said.

D'Amico said, if the support was there, he would push for a complete ban on cellphone use behind the wheel. the National transportation Safety Board recently espoused an identical position.