Texting at a Red Light Still Counts as Distracted Driving in Louisiana

Louisiana’s reputation as a land of prolific drinkers precedes itself, but what you do not know until you get here is that the people of Louisiana can outdo their brethren in the other Southern states when it comes to storytelling. The greatest of great Southern raconteurs are right here in Louisiana. The trouble is that it is unsafe to engage in either of these most enjoyable of social activities while operating a motor vehicle. Yes, you can converse with the passengers in your car to pass the time, but who does that anymore? Smartphones may have robbed the inhabitants of the rest of the country of their ability to communicate, but we in Louisiana don’t let them cramp our style. Large language models don’t know when to say “y’all,” It sounds fake when they try. We take the lead when using our communication devices to communicate, but we still sound like ourselves. The more prudent among us even wait until we get to a red light to call a friend or send a voice memo about the biggest news that transpired in the past ten minutes. According to Louisiana law, though, that still counts as distracted driving, and it causes about as many accidents as alcohol intoxication does. If you were injured in an accident caused by distracted driving, contact a Houma car accident lawyer.

Drivers Must Be Vigilant, Even at Red Lights and Stop Signs

It is challenging to determine the exact number of accidents caused by distracted driving, as it is not always as easy for police to verify whether a driver was paying attention to their smartphone before an accident as it is to determine whether a driver had consumed alcohol before an accident. Smartphones contribute to at least one out of every five accidents; among drivers under the age of 21, that figure is about three out of every five.

Louisiana, like most states, has strict laws prohibiting smartphone use while driving. In Louisiana, the “no touch” rule applies. You can get a ticket if you touch your phone screen to read or compose a message, make a phone call, or click on a video while you are driving. It is only legal to use your phone or navigate with it if it is connected to the car’s navigation system. In Louisiana, the rules about cell phone use apply when you are stopped at a red light or stop sign, just as they do when the car is moving. The legal definition of “operating a motor vehicle” means that the car’s transmission is in a gear other than park, and your location is somewhere other than your starting point or destination. The time to use your phone is when you park in a parking space or on the road shoulder.

Contact the Law Office of Patrick H. Yancey About Car Accident Cases

A personal injury lawyer can help you if you were injured in a car accident attributable to distracted driving.  Contact the Law Office of Patrick H. Yancey in Houma, Louisiana, to set up a consultation about your case.

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