All Illinois drivers are prohibited from texting while driving. Illinois’ anti-texting law (625 ILCS 5/12-610.2) states that “A person may not operate a motor vehicle on a roadway while using an electronic communication device to compose, send, or read an electronic message.” An electronic communication device” refers to a wireless telephone, personal digital assistant, or a portable or mobile computer that’s used for the purpose of composing, reading, or sending an electronic message. It doesn’t include a GPS or navigation system or a device that is physically or electronically integrated into the motor vehicle. An electronic message refers to electronic mail, a text message, an instant message, or a command or request to access an Internet site. There are exceptions for drivers texting (1) for the sole purpose of reporting an emergency situation and continued communication with emergency personnel during the emergency situation; (2) using a device in hands-free or voice-activated mode; (3) if the driver is parked on the shoulder of a roadway; or (4) when the vehicle is stopped due to normal traffic being obstructed and the driver has the motor vehicle transmission in neutral or park.

Cell phone, texting update: Only one bill addressing cell phone use by drivers was been filed for the 2012 session: SB 342, which would have outlawed use of handheld wireless communications devices in work zones. It did not advance. Indiana was the 32nd state to ban texting while behind the wheel. The law became effective July 1, 2011, with fines up to $500. Few tickets have been written under the texting law, police say, because it is hard to tell if a driver is texting or entering a phone number. On May 11, 2011, Gov. Mitch Daniels signed the texting legislation sent to him by the House and Senate. The Senate had expanded the original House bill to include a ban on use of handheld cell phones while driving, but that element was removed by a conference committee. The new law — which gets primary enforcement — is restricted to the reading, writing and sending of text messages while a vehicle is in motion. Hands-free (voice activated) texting OK.

CURRENT PROHIBITIONS:

• Text messaging prohibited for all drivers while vehicle is in motion. Fines up to $500.
• Drivers under the age of 18 may not use cell phones, text messaging devices or other wireless telecommunications devices.

• 16 percent of all teen drivers involved in fatal crashes were distracted while driving.
• Statistics show 16 percent of all fatal crashes and 20 percent of all injury crashes are a result of distracted driving. And almost one in five of those deaths involved a cell phone.
• One study revealed that dialing a phone while driving increases the risk of a crash as much as six times. Texting is riskier still, increasing the collision risk by 23 times.
• Drivers who are texting spend about 10 percent of the time outside their driving lane.
• Answering a text takes away attention from the road for about five seconds. That is enough time to travel the length of a football field.
• Texting while driving causes a 400 percent increase in time spent with driver’s eyes off of the road.