Is distracted driving illegal in Louisiana?

Louisiana drivers likely understand by now just how dangerous distracted driving can be. It has been reported by some news outlets as “the new drunk driving”, causing high numbers of dangerous and even lethal crashes every single day. But are these dangerous activities legally limited?

According to USA Today, a number of activities that could cause distracted driving are, in fact, illegal. You could face penalties for distracted driving if you text at any point while driving, regardless of how old you are, what you’re writing, or what kind of device you’re using. All wireless electronic devices that can allow you to send, read, or write electronic messages and texts are not allowed to be used while you’re behind the wheel.

If you’re a new driver and have either an intermediate permit or a learner’s permit, you aren’t even allowed to use a cell phone at all. This is because you aren’t yet used to the many distractions on the road. Adding one more on top of everything else will only make it more difficult for you to focus on the important things: the cars around you, your own driving, and the state of the road.

Finally, if you’re driving through a school zone while the school is in session, you cannot use your cell phone at all. This is for similar reasons to the above. There are simply too many distractions happening at an active school zone during posted hours, and the chance of you hitting someone drastically rises if you’re busy messing with your cell phone.

Of course, as these actions are illegal, anyone who commits them can face penalties like fines or even jailtime depending on what they’re charged with.