Two new traffic laws affecting the campus community will go into effect October 1, 2010: the cell phone law and the move over law.
Cell Phone Law
The new handheld telephone (cell phone) law updates the current prohibition to now include all drivers 18 years old or older. Operators of a moving motor vehicle or a vehicle in the travel portion of the roadway may not talk on a handheld telephone except to start/end a call or to call during an emergency situation. There are a few exceptions for emergency services and commercial drivers using PTT phones. This is a secondary violation with an initial fine of $40.
The best way to avoid cell phone distraction is to allow all cell phone calls to go to voicemail. However, there are many hands-free options that provide a solution to driving while talking on your cell phone. These include Bluetooth headsets, hands-free car kits, and personal navigation devices.
There is already an Executive Order issued by Governor O?Malley prohibiting the use of hand-held cell phones while driving any state vehicle. In addition, texting is while operating a motor vehicle has been illegal since October 2009.
Move Over Law
The move over law states that if you approach an emergency vehicle that is stopped, standing or parked and using any visual signals, unless otherwise directed by a police or traffic control device, you are to make a lane change into an available lane not immediately adjacent to the emergency vehicle. If that is not possible then slow to a reasonable and prudent speed that is safe for certain existing conditions (an officer approaching a car in the slow lane of traffic, or on a shoulder of roadway).
For more information on the Move-Over law, go to {http://www.overoveramerican.com/}.
