BENTON COUNTY, Wash.-Deputies with the Benton County Sheriff’s Office responded to a single-car rollover crash in the area of E McNary Rd recently.
According to the BCSO, driver inexperience and inattention were likely factors in the crash. The driver was uninjured in the crash.
The BCSO is using the crash as an opportunity to remind drivers of the importance of staying alert behind the wheel, regardless of the road conditions.
In 2017, the Driving Under the Influence of Electronics Act was passed in Washington to help end distracted driving and reduce crashes. When headed anywhere, a long trip or a short commute to work, all electronic devices should be turned off or put away if possible.
Here’s a look at what’s allowed and what’s illegal under the Driving Under the Influence of Electronics Act, according to the Washington State Patrol:
Allowed: Hands-free devices, such as bluetooth. Drivers are also allowed a single touch to start a device, such as music, phone or GPS. Drivers are encouraged to start any devices before driving.
Not allowed: Drivers may not use hand-held cellphones while driving or while stopped at traffic. The lone exception is if a driver or caller is contacting 911.
According to the WSP, distracted drivers using devices may be subject to a $136 ticket for a first offense, a $234 ticket for a second offense within five years