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Welcome to Delaware. Put down your cell phone.

Starting next year, most Delaware motorists will have to put down their cell phones while driving.

On Tuesday Governor Jack Markell signed a law banning text messaging and the use of hand-held cell phones while driving, claiming it will make Delaware roads safer.

“This year so far there have been 94 crashes involving cell phones as a distraction.  There have been others [17] involving texting as the primary distraction, and the number is growing because the number of devices is growing and more people are tempted to use them behind the wheel,” Gov. Markell said.

Delaware is the 30th state to enact a texting ban but only the 8th to restrict the use of hand-held cells, joining California, Connecticut, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, and Washington.

Delaware’s new law earned praise from U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.

“Electronic devices are potentially lethal in the hands of any driver,” said Secretary LaHood. “Thanks to Governor Markell, everyone who rides on Delaware’s roads will be safer due to enactment of this strong measure.”

Secretary LaHood has advocated stronger efforts to cut down on distracted driving, including pilot programs in New York and Connecticut as part of a campaign called “Phone in One Hand. Ticket in the Other.” The program is studying whether increased enforcement and public awareness can reduce distracted driving behavior.

Delaware’s new law ends State Representative Joseph Miro’s eight-year fight for the ban.

“We have the statistics to support it,” said Rep. Miro (R–Pike Creek). “Eight years ago when I first introduced the bill, we knew what the impact was but we did not have the numbers to back it up.”

  • Click here to listen to Miro discuss why the timing was finally right for the ban. [audio:http://www.wdde.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/miro-1.mp3|titles=Miro 1]
  • Click here to hear Miro discuss why a statewide law is preferable to local cell phone restrictions. [audio:http://www.wdde.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/Miro-2.mp3|titles=Miro 2]

According to the Delaware State Police, 230 crashes in 2009 involved use of a cell phone as a distraction.

Using a hand-held cell or texting is a primary offense, meaning you can be pulled over specifically for that offense alone. Fines for failing to go hands-free will range from $50 for a first offense to $200.

But the new law, which takes effect January 2, 2011, is not a total ban.  In fact, it includes quite a few exemptions and exceptions—for example, dialing. Click here to see what you won’t—and will—be able to do on your car phone starting next year.

Complete audio story

[audio:http://www.wdde.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/cell-phone-ban.mp3|titles=Cell phone ban]