What if you had to prove you could text and drive before you could get a license?
More and more traffic accidents are due to texting. If we want to reduce the 1.2 million traffic victims worldwide each year, we have to act. How do you convince youngsters not to text while driving? Prove to them it is a very bad idea: oblige them to text while driving!
See how Belgian learner drivers reacted when they were told they had to pass the mobile phone test in order to get their driver's license.
Not a bad idea.
If you're wondering what the penalty is in your state . . . it's probably not enough. Well, that is unless you live in Alaska.
In Belgium, the cell phone is called a gsm (which stands for Global System for Mobile Communication) and texting is called sms'en (which stands for Short Message Service) and if you sms on your gsm while driving, the fine is 100 Euro.
Nearly every European country has some sort of ban and/or penalty and I know it is enforced in Belgium, but from experience, I'm pretty sure it isn't in Italy!
| Country | Banned | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | Yes | Banned in all states - fines vary though. |
| Austria | Yes | Fines vary - up to US$22 per incident |
| Bahrain | Yes | Offenders face fines - possibly prison |
| Belgium | Yes | Phones can be used without a hands-free unit when the car is stationary - but not while in traffic (such as at traffic lights) |
| Brazil | Yes | Ban imposed Jan. 2001 |
| Botswana | Being debated | The attorney general is drafting the legislation |
| Canada | Variable | Banned in Newfoundland (Dec2002) fines up to C$180 - Banned in Québec (Apr 2008) fines up to C$100. |
| Chile | Yes | |
| China | Yes | Reported to be covered by general "good driving practice" legislation. |
| Czech Republic | Yes | |
| Denmark | Yes | Ban imposed July 1998 - US$60 fine for infringements |
| Egypt | Yes | Fines of about US$100 per offence. |
| Finland | Yes | Ban imposed January 2003 - US$55 fine for infringements |
| France | Yes | Banned 2003, EUR40 fine per infraction |
| Germany | Yes | Ban imposed Feb. 2001 - usage allowed without a hands-free unit only when the engine is switched off. Fine of €40 per infraction |
| Greece | Yes | |
| Hong Kong | Yes | |
| Hungary | Yes | Not often implemented by the police |
| India - New Delhi | Yes | New Delhi - Ban extended to ban all use of cell phones when driving, including use with a hands-free unit - July 2001
Andhra Pradesh - Ban now enforced with prison sentences
|
| Ireland | Yes | Banned, with a US$380 and/or up to 3 months imprisonment on a third offence. Handsfree kits allowed, although that is subject to review. |
| Isle of Man | Yes | Banned since July 2000 |
| Israel | Yes | |
| Italy | Yes | Fines of up to US$124 per infraction |
| Japan | Yes | Ban imposed Nov. 1999 |
| Jersey | Yes | Ban imposed Feb. 1998 |
| Jordan | Yes | Ban imposed Oct. 2001 |
| Kenya | Yes | Ban imposed late 2001 |
| Malaysia | Yes | |
| Mexico | Partial | Ban in Mexico City |
| Netherlands | Yes | Fines up to €2,000 or two weeks in jail |
| New Zealand | Being debated | Under debate - consultation being sought from interested parties |
| Norway | Yes | Fines of over $600 per infraction |
| Pakistan | Partial | Banned in Islamabad |
| Philippines | Yes | |
| Poland | Yes | Fine of PLN200 ($100) - can be higher if contested. |
| Portugal | Yes | |
| Romania | Yes | |
| Russia | Yes | Ban imposed by Prime Minister - March 2001 |
| Singapore | Yes | |
| Slovak Republic | Yes | |
| Slovenia | Yes | |
| South Africa | Yes | |
| South Korea | Yes | Ban imposed July 2001 - US$47 fine + 15 points on the license. |
| Spain | Yes | |
| Sweden | No | |
| Switzerland | Yes | |
| Taiwan | Yes | If the driver is using a reflective screen on the car, local privacy laws forbid stopping the car for violating the ban. |
| Thailand | Yes | Bill proposed in May 2000 |
| Turkey | Yes | |
| Turkmenistan | Yes | Signed into law with effect from May 1st 2003, by President Saparmyrat Turkmenbasy |
| UK | Yes | Banned from December 2003 |
| Zimbabwe | Yes | Ban imposed in Sept 2001, announced via official news agency only though, so not confirmed |
Dnt txt n drv
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