Assemblyman David Buchwald (D-Westchester) announced that the Assembly has passed legislation, which he is a sponsor of, to improve driver safety by discouraging young and new drivers from texting while driving (A.7739).
“Inexperience behind the wheel, combined with the distraction of trying to text and drive, can have serious, sometimes deadly consequences,” Assemblyman Buchwald said. “It’s important that we communicate this message to our young drivers at an early stage, and this legislation would do just that.”
The Assembly’s legislation would increase 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. 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. 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, if within six months of getting the license back, 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 legislation 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.1 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.
“The bottom line is that a text message can wait,” Buchwald continued. “If these measures go on to save one life, and prevent one family’s devastation from a distracted driving tragedy, then it will be worth it.”
Assemblyman Buchwald hosted his “Arrive Alive Pledge” program last month in coordination with high schools, parents and families in the district in order to stress the importance of responsible driving and safety during teenage prom season.
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