It is now official, not only will texting while driving be illegal, but using a cell phone in a school or construction zone will also be banned.

“I knew that texting while driving would one day be illegal, it is just here faster than I had thought it would be,” said Nicole Becker, sophomore hospitality administration major.The laws were signed by Gov. Pat Quinn on Aug. 6 after they were proposed by Illinois Secretary of
State Jesse White. They will go into effect Jan. 1.

“It stinks because I text and drive all the time but the law is only here to insure safety,” said Becker. “Drivers should be watching the road and not a new text message.”If anyone is caught sending a text or using their cell phone in a school or construction zone, the penalty is a moving violation that will go on the motorist’s driving record, as well as accompanying fines and court costs to be determined by the judge.

“I always see commercials dealing with driving fast in construction zones,” said sophomore accounting major Brian Keefe. “I know that I sometimes speed and agree with safety being first.”

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, at least 25 percent of the police-reported crashes involve some form of driver distraction.

“I’ll admit it—I text while driving,” said sophomore economics major John Han. “But, statistics do not lie. If it really causes danger to everyone involved it’s better to just not do it at all.”

The legislation was based on recommendations made by the state’s Distracted Driving Task Force, which was chaired by White. The task force, created by Joint House Resolution 22, met three times last year to discuss ways to reduce injuries caused by distracted driving.

According to a notice sent out by the Office of the Secretary of State, the increased use of technological devices has made distracted driving has become a serious problem in our state and nation.

“Now, that I know that texting while driving will be illegal I will think twice before checking my inbox,” said Keefe.

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