Week in Review

State Capitol Week in Review

            LITTLE ROCK -  It is now illegal to text message while
driving a motor vehicle on Arkansas roads and highways.

            The new law that prohibits driving while text messaging is
Act 181 of 2009, which took effect on October 1.

            Arkansas is now one of the nineteen states that prohibit all
drivers from texting. Several other states prohibit teenaged drivers or
bus drivers from texting while they're behind the wheel.

            Last year the State Police worked 787 traffic accidents in
which drivers were distracted by cell phones or other wireless
communications devices. Federal transportation officials say driver
distraction is a factor in 16 percent of fatal crashes, and is more
prevalent in wrecks involving teenaged drivers.

            Another law took effect on October 1 that affects teenaged
drivers. It is Act 197 and it prohibits drivers under the age of 18 from
using a cell phone while driving. Drivers who are 18, 19 or 20 years old
can use a cell phone but must use a headset or some type of hands-free
device.

            Young drivers in violation of Act 197 will receive a warning
for a first offense and a $50 fine for a second offense.

            Arkansas law requires front seat passengers to wear a seat
belt, and under Act 308 of 2009 the police can now stop a vehicle for
the sole purpose of ticketing the driver for failure to buckle up.

            It has been a long time since many of us took the driving
test, and a lot has changed since we got our first driver's license. The
State Police publish a study guide that not only is very helpful for
passing the test but also as a refresher course with numerous safe
driving tips. The State Police web page is athttp://www.asp.state.ar.us/

            To bring up the study guide, click on Driver Licensing and
Examination and a separate page will appear that has study guides in
English and Spanish, as well as study guides for commercial driver's
license tests and school bus driver tests.

            A common fault of adult drivers who have gained confidence
is that they follow too closely to the car in front. The rule of thumb
is for every 10 miles and hour of speed, allow at least a car length of
space between your vehicle and the car in front. For example, if you're
driving 60 m.p.h., you should be at least six car lengths behind the car
in front of you.

            The "two second rule" works at any speed. Locate a
stationary object ahead of you, and start counting "one-thousand-one,
one-thousand-two" when the rear end of the vehicle in front of you
passes that object. You're following too closely if you pass the
stationary object before you finish counting.

            Allow even more space for motorcycles and for all vehicles
in bad weather. Keep in mind that large trucks take a lot longer to
brake to a stop than a car. A car going 55 m.p.h. can stop within 140
feet, about half the length of a football field. An 18-wheeler going the
same speed needs 400 feet to stop. Don't linger beside a truck while
passing it. There are blind spots behind and to the sides of trucks.
Don't under-estimate the speed of approaching trucks. Because of their
large size, it appears as if they're moving more slowly than they really
are.