Last Monday, Oregon House members passed a new legislation that would establish harsher penalties for drivers who are caught using a non-hands-free device while driving.
The new legislation is titled House Bill 2597, and it specifically states that Oregon drivers caught using a “mobile electronic device” will be charged a hefty fine of up to $2,000. This bill is a result of an alarming increase in traffic injuries and fatal accidents that have been caused by distracted drivers.
Oregon is not the only state facing these dangerous driving habits. Several states across the U.S. including New York, California and Washington have also been subject to a rise in distracted driving fatalities.
In 2015, distracted driving caused a total of 3,477 traffic deaths, which is a nine percent increase from the year before. These sobering statistics have led the National Safety Council (NSC) to declare distracted driving “a deadly epidemic.”
The new Oregon legislation states that fines for the first offense could amount to $1,000. However, drivers will have the option to erase such citations from their driving records if they successfully complete a state-approved distracted driving avoidance course at their own expense.
Drivers will be subject to higher fines if they are caught for a first offense that causes an accident, or if they are caught for subsequent offenses.
“In Oregon, a crash caused by distracted driving occurs approximately every three hours,” according to a report from the Oregon Department of Transportation’s distracted driving task force. “It has become an epidemic facing the country and the state with traffic fatalities and injuries increasing each year.”
Actions that involve using a mobile device, as stated in the House bill, may include interaction with a GPS, texting, talking on the phone, writing emails or browsing the web. However, bill author Rep. Andy Olson (R-Albany) noted that, “Looking at emails while driving is not a citable offense under current law.”
Although there was much debate on the House floor before the legislation passed, most representatives came to the agreement that this bill was necessary in order to help stop distracted driving from causing preventable accidents.
“Unless we make it painful, people are going to continue doing this,” said Rep. Carl Wilson (R-Grants Pass), adding that distracted driving has reached “epidemic” levels.
In any case, certain members did not keep quiet about their objections to the new distracted driving crackdown. “I hate this bill,” said Rep. Paul Evans (D-Monmouth), even though he did vote to approve it.
Evans expressed that although he disagrees with the overall theme of the bill, which could potentially lead to more restrictions for drivers, he understands the need to force drivers to focus on the road instead of on their smartphones.
“The intent is right,” Evans said. “It might save a life.”
House Bill 2597 will now be sent to the state Senate for approval.