Assemblyman David Buchwald (D-Westchester) announced that Governor Cuomo has signed a bill sponsored by the Assemblyman into law that will improve driver safety by discouraging young and new drivers from texting while driving (A.7739). This law goes into effect immediately.
“It’s important that we communicate to young drivers at an early stage that distracted driving is a serious matter and can sometimes lead to deadly consequences,” Assemblyman Buchwald said. “The Governor’s new law sends the right message at the right time - a text message can wait.”
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The new law increases penalties for texting or using a cell phone while driving on two different categories of permits and licenses: probationary license holders and junior permit or license holders.
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A probationary period of six months applies to new drivers of all ages and begins on the day you pass your road test. Junior permit and license holders refer to drivers under the age of 18.[1] A first offense for drivers with a probationary license or a junior permit or license is a 60-day license suspension. A second offense for drivers with a probationary license is a six-month license revocation; whereas that of a driver with a junior permit or license is a 60-day permit or license revocation.
This law also builds on Governor Cuomo’s recent move directing the Department of Motor Vehicles to immediately start imposing five points on any driver’s license of those guilty of texting or using cell phones while driving; this is an increase from three points for a first offense.
Currently, 43 percent of teenage drivers admit that they regularly text while driving, according to research released by the Pediatric Academic Societies.[2] In addition, from 2005 to 2011, there has been approximately a 143 percent increase in cell phone-related crashes in New York State. And from 2011 to 2012, there was a 234 percent increase in the number of tickets issued for texting while driving, Buchwald noted.
“Every parent wants their child to be safe on the road, and this law helps encourage that. If these measures prevent even one loss or tragedy due to distracted driving, then it will be worth it,” Buchwald concluded.
