When the state of Washington named its distracted driving law, legislators wanted to make it clear that breaking this law would not be taken lightly. The state’s Driving Under the Influence of Electronics (DUI-E) law intentionally connects it to impaired driving laws.
The law’s name is intended to grab your attention.
The link to DUI is important
Distracted driving, and the number of people dying in related accidents, is a growing problem. Before the law took effect in 2017, distracted driving deaths on the state’s roads increased by 32 percent in one 12-month period.
Driving under the “influence” of electronics has become just as dangerous as driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs. Before the new law, there were 155 distracted driving deaths two years in a row on Washington roads. Two years after the DUI-E law went into effect, the number of those deaths decreased to 122.
Washington lawmakers intentionally added the term DUI because of the negative reaction it prompts. They wanted to make sure you understand that distracted driving is just as dangerous as driving impaired.
What are the DUI-E laws and how do they affect you?
The law says you cannot talk, text or hold any electronic device while driving or at a complete stop.
Understanding the law is important
The law affects your driving rights. Understanding the DUI-E law can affect your driving record and your future.