TEXTING WHILE DRIVING ENDS SUNDAY - Secondary Offense Using Cell Phone

(06/29/2012)
Texting while driving will be come a primary offense while driving in the Mountain State starting Sunday.

Also starting this Sunday it will be illegal to talk on your cell phone while driving, a secondary offense. That means you will have to commit another traffic infraction or law violation before you can be cited

The first official offense will land you a $100 ticket. Your second offense will cost you $250 and $500 for your third and subsequent offense. Points to your license might be added on your third offense.

Statistics say that distraction behind the wheel can lead to serious injury. In 2010 over 3,000 people died due to distracted driving, with another 416,000 were injured because of it.

Research out of Monash University says drivers using hand held devices are four times more likely to crash and hurt themselves than drivers who don't talk on the phone.

Carnegie Mellon research say driving and using a cell phone can reduce attentiveness by about 40%.

Next year it will become a primary offense to drive while talking on a cell phone.