California Ranks High for New Traffic Safety Laws

Nationwide, there are thousands of auto accidents every day. The emotional toll on family and friends is both staggering and long-lasting. The annual economic and societal cost of these accidents is more than $871 billionApi Public ViewPublication 812013 Crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov.

Teen drivers and their parents feel the impact of accidents in many ways. Some know of friends who have been involved in traffic accidents, many of them avoidable. For certain individuals, the losses have been very personal. Teen drivers and their parents are also keenly aware of how quickly crashes can drive up insurance rates.

Accordingly, families, government agencies, and advocacy groups all want to see traffic laws updated and improved. It’s vital to be vigilant in the ongoing quest for safer roads.

New California Laws

California’s new traffic safety laws cover everything from distracted driving to bicyclists in intersections. Unless otherwise noted, the laws went into effect on January 1, 2020.

Distracted Driving Enforcement

The dangers of texting while drivingTrending Distracted Drivers Are Lethal Texting And Driving Defensive Driving are well understood. In California, it is already illegal for motorists to use a handheld phone in any way. If you’re under 18, it is illegal to even use a hands-free phone while driving. 

Assembly Bill 47Faces BillTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=201920200AB47 Leginfo.legislature.ca.gov adds teeth to existing statutes. Both AAA and the California Highway Patrol sponsored the bill. As of July 1, 2021, a driver convicted for a second time within 36 months after the first incident gets a point added to their record. Since this is a new law, the second violation must occur after July 1, 2021.

Current cell phone laws already impact violators in a dramatic way. In California, even a single ticket may impact insurance rates. Following a citation for illegal phone use, premiums increase an average of 45%Auto Insurance Basics Texting Tickets.html Auto Insurance.

Bicyclists in Intersections

It's vital to steer clear of bicyclistsTrending Motorists Cyclists And Pedestrians Its Not Just You Out There Defensive Driving who share the road with you. There's now a new law governing bicyclists in intersections. Beginning in 2020, it is legal for a bicyclist to travel straight through a left or right-turn-only lane when the traffic signal allows this. Assembly Bill 1266Faces BillNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=201920200AB1266 Leginfo.legislature.ca.gov authorizes updated bike signage, pavement markings, and lane striping to support this new provision.

Other New Laws

Other new laws cover DMV appointments, cannabis use, and wildlife recovery. Assembly Bill 317Faces BillTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=201920200AB317 Leginfo.legislature.ca.gov makes it illegal to either sell or try to sell your DMV time slot. Passengers cannot consume cannabisNews Local In 2020 California Passengers Will Not Be Able To Smoke Marijuana In Any Moving Vehicle Krcrtv.com in taxis, limousines, buses, and campers. Finally, a new law authorizes the state’s Fish and Game Commission to start a pilot programStory 2019 12 30 Despite New California Law Illegal To Collect Roadkill California allowing permitting for roadkill recovery.