By MATT PIKE
St. Joseph Post
A new Missouri law will prohibit the use of cell phones while driving starting Monday.
Seargent Shane Hux with Troop H of the Missouri Highway Patrol says the new Hands-Free law prohibits drivers from holding a cell phone while traveling.
"So that includes they are unable to write, send, or read any text-based communication or make a phone call without the use of the hands free or voice operated feature or function on their vehicle or hands-free device," Hux tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post.
Hux calls the new law a step in the right direction as accidents and fatalities due to distracted driving continue to rise.
Hux says that there are even more traffic crashes now than there were 15 to 20 years ago.
"And why is that? You know our roadways are safer today, our vehicles are safer today, we just have a lot more distractions than we did 15 or 20 years ago, and primarily a lot of that is because of the cell phone usage that people are using," Hux points out. "A lot of people I believe, they consider driving to be an inconvenience for them, driving hasn't changed it's still a full-time job."
Hux says with the technology that we have now people want information as soon as possible and will go to the internet for that even while behind the wheel.
Two exceptions to the law will be using it to contact emergency personnel about a problem along the road and also using your phone for navigation.
Hux says just because navigation is an exception, doesn't mean you should have your phone in your hand
"There are devices to where you can put your device in stationary, they have little devices that you put into your vents on your car, down by the center console, you can put them on your windshield, so there are devices to where after you get that information set for your GPS you can put it away in a safe place so it's not constantly in your hand," Hux says. "Thats what we're trying to get away from, just so you can stay ten and two on the steering wheel."
Hux says if you have a passenger traveling with you, they can also be a great navigation tool.