On Wednesday, May 5, 2010, Governor Doyle signed into law legislation (Assembly Bill 496) that will prohibit texting while driving in Wisconsin. The law will take effect on December 1st, 2010. Under the texting law, drivers cannot compose or send electronic messages such as a text or e-mail. Violations of this ban would result in fines of no less than $20 and no more than $400 for a first offense, and no less than $200 and no more than $800 for a second offense.
The ban does not apply to operators of authorized emergency vehicles or the use of a global positioning device. It also doesn't apply when the use of a voice-operated or hands-free device is used to text messages. Wisconsin joins 24 other states, including Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois and Michigan, that have already passed bans on texting, according to the Governors Highway Safety Association. Listing of laws by state.
There are new products and apps being developed that can be effective tools to help stay focused while driving and keep everyone safer. Here are a few that we've found:
www.key2safedriving.net
Establish profiles that won't allow calls or texts when a bluetooth device detects a car in motion.
www.aegismobility.com
Uses phone's GPS to determine if it's in a moving vehicle, logs incoming calls and texts and responds with a message that you're driving.
www.zoomsafer.com
Enables you to dictate text messages and update social-networking sites while driving.
We also suggest, especially for those parents who have teen drivers, that you simply turn the phone off you when get into the car.
