Officials Make Hands-Free Electronic Device Law Education Push

In just five days, New Hampshire’s distracted driving, hands-free law goes into effect, and public safety officials are making one last educational push to let drivers know that they will soon be issuing fines when they see drivers using cellphones, iPads, or GPS units on the state’s roads.

Officials held a press conference outside of the Department of Public Safety on June 25, 2015, to speak about the law and make sure drivers knew all that it entailed.

Col. Robert Quinn of the New Hampshire State Police thanked other police and officials in attendance, as well as well as businesses, advocates, and members of the press for helping to get the information out to drivers. Message boards on Granite State highways will be letting travelers know about the new law. After July 1, the message boards will let drivers know that troopers and police are stepping up enforcement.

Quinn said during the last year, thousands of drivers have found out about the law, due to outreach by law enforcement, public service announcements, news stories, and interviews.

“Distracted driving rivals impaired driving as a top public safety risk on our roadways,” Quinn said. “It is killing people. It is killing people at a rate that we haven’t had to address.”

Quinn said troopers have shifted their focus to distracted driving, which he said was “grossly underreported,” adding that the law was a step in the right direction.

Robert Cormier, a police chief in Tilton, and the head of the New Hampshire Chief’s of Police Association, said law enforcement tried to work on a bill that was both fair to the driver and improve safety. He added that it wasn’t about stopping communication but improving it for everyone.

“It’s our goal to drive down accidents … to drive down fatals,” he said.

Amherst resident Marilyn Bachman also spoke at the event. She lost her husband, retired Fire Chief John Bachman, in December 2013 when he went left their home to go out and get the mail and was struck by a distracted driver. While holding back tears, she explained

“Going to the mailbox should not be an eventful event,” she said. “But on this day, it was, not only for myself, but a horrific tragedy for my family, my friends … their lives changed forever that day.”

The New Hampshire Automobile Dealers Association is also involved with the education effort informing drivers of new cars about hands-free options as well as the new rules.

According to officials, drivers can use Bluetooth devices, ear bud headphones, and voice command technology while communicating on the phone. Drivers will not be allowed to text, access the Internet, or anything else that requires the use of hands and eyes to access data and information.

VIDEO LINK: https://www.youtube.com/embed/EYGcJOHXYdM