Today is the last day drivers will be able to legally send or receive e-mail or text messages while driving in Illinois and at least 17 other states, USA Today reported. Illinois also outlaws talking on a cell phone while driving in a highway construction zone or school zone.
Drivers in Illinois are forbidden to use a cell phone, personal digital assistant or portable computer to write, send or read a text message, instant message or e-mail.
The law will be difficult to enforce, police admit, but they are happy for the recognition that distracted driving is the cause of many traffic crashes.
"Typically in these cases, there are a lot of rear-end accidents in the flow of traffic," Vic Elias, Grundy County Sheriff's Deputy assigned to the traffic division, told the Morris (Ill.) Daily Herald. "When you ask the driver why they didn't see the car [in front of them] braking, you'd be surprised how many admit 'I was on my cell phone' or 'I was texting.' But that may change now that they can be cited for it."
Elias said he wouldn’t stop every driver he suspected of driving while under the influence of e-mail.
"For example, if I'm driving down the road, I won't stop someone unless I'm 100% sure their seat belt isn't on. It'll be the same with this law," said Elias. "I want to be 100% sure they're texting and then stop them and either cite them or educate them."
