New Law Will Impact More Than 23 Million Licensed Drivers in California
Despite the imminent nature of California’s new legislation requiring
all drivers to use hands-free devices while talking on cell phones, many
are unfamiliar with the details of the law, including when it goes into
effect and the consequences for non-compliance. According to a new
survey by TNS and Plantronics, Inc. (NYSE: PLT), the largest headset
manufacturer in California, 44 percent of California drivers don’t know
when the new law goes into effect and 72 percent don’t have a strong
familiarity with what it encompasses.
California’s new hands-free legislation, which goes into effect July 1,
2008, will impact more than 23 million licensed drivers.1 The
Plantronics survey, which polled 400 California licensed drivers, also
found that 47 percent of respondents aren’t familiar with the
consequences for not complying with the law. Other findings include:
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Sixty-five percent of California drivers admitted to regularly talking
on their cell phones while driving; their primary reasons were:
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To keep in touch with family members (57 percent)
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To take care of work-related issues (22 percent)
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To catch up with friends (12 percent)
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Sixty-two percent of California drivers believe that headsets help
eliminate physical distractions when performing driving tasks
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Eighty-four percent of California drivers would recommend that their
friends and loved ones use a headset
Details of California’s Hands-free Legislation
Under the new law, drivers cannot hold cell phones to their head while
on the road. Hands-free devices such as headsets and speakerphones are
mandatory when using a cell phone while driving. Drivers under the age
of 18 cannot use cell phones while driving at all, even if used in
conjunction with a hands-free device.
Not abiding by the hands-free law is a primary offense. Drivers will be
stopped and fined – there will be no grace period and no warning tickets
issued. Fines will be $20 for the first offense (up to $70 after
penalties are added); subsequent violations will be $50 (up to $175
after penalties are added).
Safety Tips for Hands-free Devices
Plantronics offers the following tips for keeping both hands on the
wheel and both eyes on the road when using your cell phone and
hands-free device while driving:
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Trial Run: Practice using your phone and headset together
before you drive. Familiarize yourself with the headset controls.
Adjust the fit and the microphone on your headset, check the headset
settings on your cell phone and stow the phone so it’s out of your way
but still accessible.
-
Be Prepared: Program all your frequently called numbers into
your phone. This includes your boss, your kids’ babysitter and your
favorite neighborhood pizza place. And don’t forget about voice
dialing; most phones have that option, so use it as much as possible.
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Set Up for Success: Just as you check your rearview mirror and
secure your seatbelt before driving, be sure to put your headset on
and ensure it’s connected properly to your phone.
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Driving Comes First: Remember your first priority is driving.
You should only place and receive calls when it’s absolutely necessary.
“It’s important for California drivers to not only familiarize
themselves with the hands-free law, but also the options available to
them to ensure compliance before the law goes into effect,” said Clay
Hausmann, vice president of Corporate Marketing, Plantronics. “We
recognize that California drivers have many different needs, so we offer
a wide variety of headsets that fit individual preferences and style.
Regardless of the model, all Plantronics headsets deliver the audio
performance, ease-of-use and comfort that customers have come to expect
for the past 47 years.”
Visit www.plantronics.com/driversafety
to learn more about the law, find the hands-free solution that’s best
for you, and read up on more driving safety tips.
Plantronics recognizes that there are occasions when driving
circumstances make talking on a mobile phone – handheld or hands-free –
unsafe. In these instances, motorists should pull over or hang up to
protect the safety of themselves, their passengers and others on the
road.
About Plantronics
In 1969, a Plantronics headset carried the historic first words from the
moon: “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” Since
then, Plantronics has become the headset of choice for mission-critical
applications such as air traffic control, 911 dispatch and the New York
Stock Exchange. Today, this history of Sound Innovation® is the basis
for every product we build for the office, contact center, personal
mobile, entertainment and residential markets. The Plantronics family of
brands includes Plantronics, Altec Lansing and Clarity. For more
information, go to www.plantronics.com
or call (800) 544-4660.
Altec Lansing, Clarity, Plantronics and Sound Innovation are trademarks
or registered trademarks of Plantronics, Inc.
According to the Public Inquiry office at the Department of Motor
Vehicles, the total number of licensed drivers in the state of
California is 23,237,087 (December 31, 2007).
