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Virginia Delegate Bobby Orrock proposes HB532 looking to Ban Eating While Driving | Fairfax County Traffic Lawyer

We may be getting burned out on the distracted driving kills message, but distracted driving is the cause of about 80% of car accidents. This includes any activity that distracts you from paying full attention to the road in front of you and your ability to operate your vehicle. We have seen more and more legislation against the use of cell phone devices and texting while driving but now on the chopping block is your ability to eat while driving. So the next time a cop pulls you over, the first words they say may not be license and registration please but rather put the burger down!

We are all guilty of eating while driving and most of us will have the spill stains on the carpet and lost candy under the seats to prove it. Virginia Delegate Bobby Orrock now wants to cool your fries prohibiting you from eating them while behind the wheel. If this legislation passes, it may be the most difficult habit for drivers to break.
“The provisions of the bill I've introduced, we are all probably guilty of violating. But if we all are driving distracted, we are taking lives and creating misery. I've seen people putting on make-up, eating with both hands off the wheel. I saw a gentleman working on his iPad as he was driving down the road." - Del. Bobby Orrock
HB532: Motor vehicles; prohibits operator from engaging in activities that impair operation of vehicle proposes the following amendment to the current law:
"Any person who operates a moving motor vehicle on the highways in the Commonwealth while engaged in an activity that is not necessary to the operation of the vehicle and that actually impairs his ability to operate the vehicle is guilty of a traffic infraction."
Based on this language, Orrock’s bill not only wants to battle eating while driving but really any distracting activity you could be doing behind the wheel. So what will happen if you are attending to unruly children in the vehicle or just brushing your hair? According to this, BUSTED!
Since the current distracted driving laws in Virginia are weak and frustrate enforcement officers, Fairfax County Police have already been cracking down on distracted drivers by enforcing it under older failure to pay attention behind the wheel laws. Officials are hoping that this law will pass making it easier to get the message across that distracted driving is not acceptable.
So are you ready to lose your right to eat while driving?
Sources:

• WUSA 9 - Putting The Brakes On Eating And Driving
• WTVR Richmond CBS 6 - Va. lawmaker wants to outlaw eating while driving / New Legislation: A hard bill to swallow

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