Davis Law Group, P.S.

Survey says one in five use the internet while driving

A new survey conducted by State Farm shows that one in five people use the internet on their smart phone while driving. Nineteen percent of the drivers surveyed admitted to using the internet while driving to check their e-mail, search for directions, and update or browse their social networking pages.

According to Washington State Patrol, there is no law that technically makes surfing the internet on your phone illegal. "There's nothing in the statute for sending, reading, or writing a text message that actually says looking at the internet or updating your Facebook page is illegal." Trooper Keith Leary told KIRO Radio.

The law against text messaging or RCW 46.61.668 states that a person operating a moving motor vehicle who, by means of an electronic wireless communications device, sends, reads, or writes a text message, is guilty of a traffic infraction. A person does not send, read, or write a text message when he or she reads, selects, or enters a phone number or name in a wireless communications device for the purpose of making a phone call.

Leary warned that if you use your cell phone in the car you run the risk of being pulled over for not using the hands-free method."If we see you typing away on your cell phone, we don't know necessarily what you're doing. We don't have x-ray vision to see what your phone is doing, or to see what you're typing on your phone. We're probably going to think that what you're doing is sending a text message," says Leary. "They have the possibility, due to the discretion of the officer, to get a $124 infraction."

Despite the fact that there is no technical punishment for surfing the internet on your phone it is still unsafe to take your eyes away from the roadway no matter what the reason, and if you do so, you risk the chance of collision. Even if you only use your phone when your car is stopped at a red light or stop sign, you are still operating a motor vehicle and it is still deemed unsafe by authorities.

Cindy Garretson, Director of Auto Technology Research at State Farm said that based on the results of the survey, the company is interested in doing a more intensive study, stating that they are “working to prevent crashes and save lives, and this research takes us one step closer to understanding the driver distractions that affect everyone on our roadways."