Relates to drivers of buses, taxis and livery vehicles using hands-free mobile telephones

Showing the cosponsors who are on Agora, A to Z. The official record may list more.

• Democratic2
• Republican2

This bill has cosponsors from more than one party.

Shown in neutral colors by design; Agora is non-partisan.

◆ The sponsor's argument

Why Jeremy Cooney says this is needed

Taxi, livery and bus drivers in New York State should be banned from using hands-free mobile telephones while operating buses and motor vehi- cles, except in cases of emergencies, dispatch or when the vehicles are lawfully parked on the side of the road. Currently, under New York State Law, drivers are prevented only from speaking on hand-held mobile tele- phones while driving. While hands-free mobile telephones allow a driv- er's hands to remain on the wheel, the hands-free mobile telephones still do not prevent the distraction that mobile telephones cause. New York must ban hands-free mobile telephones for all drivers operating buses, taxis and livery except in cases of emergency, dispatch or when legally pulled to the side of the road. Safety is paramount. It is vital for taxi, livery and bus drivers to be alert and focus their whole attention on the road as well as on the passengers. It is accepted that hand-held cellphone use is unsafe, but there is increasing evidence that using a hands-free mobile telephone can also be extremely distracting to drivers. See Drews, Frank A., Pasu- pathi, Monisha, Strayer, David L., "Passenger and Cellphone Conversa- tions in Simulated Driving," Journal of Experimental Psychology: Applied, Vol, 14 (4), Dec 2.008,392-400). See also Krauss, Gabrielle, "Cellphone use causes over 1 in 4 car accidents," USA Today, March 28, 2014. Speaking on a hands-free mobile telephone can interfere with concentration, which may affect driving and may have potentially disas- trous results if a bus or hired vehicle passenger is in need of atten- tion. It is the job of the drivers to transport passengers safely and to maintain their security, and so the distraction of hands-free mobile telephones should be removed. We must take all measures possible to make our roadways safe and to ensure the secure transport of our citizens. Only in specific cases of emergency, in the course of dispatch or when pulled over to the side of the road should a driver be allowed to use a mobile telephone with a hands-free device. Banning the use of hands-free mobile telephones while operating buses, taxis and livery will result in safer transportation for all individuals in New York State. LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:. S.891: 2023-2024 (Hoylman-Sigal)

This is the sponsor's own case for the bill, quoted from their memorandum. It is not Agora's description of what the bill does.