- Massachusetts Department of Transportation
Boston — It’s Groundhog Day again…maybe the groundhog will see his shadow, and we’re in for another six weeks of winter. Let’s hope for an early spring!
Like the movie based on this annual event, learn from your driving mistakes and don’t repeat bad habits like driving while distracted. Take this opportunity to recommit to better driving habits every day. Here are some tips to help you improve your focus while driving.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration:
“Distracted driving is any activity that diverts attention from driving, including talking or texting on your phone, eating and drinking, talking to people in your vehicle, fiddling with the stereo, entertainment, or navigation system — anything that takes your attention away from the task of safe driving.”
Texting is among the worst distractions while driving. Massachusetts’ Hands-Free Law prohibits the use of any electronic device unless in hands-free mode. Fines for violations start at $100. A 3rd offense means a $500 fine plus an insurance surcharge. A costly punishment due to the well-researched fact that cell phone use is a severe distraction.
Here are the rules in Massachusetts:
Drivers who are 18 and over
· Can only use electronic devices and mobile phones in hands-free mode, and are only permitted to touch devices to activate hands-free mode.
· Not permitted to hold or support any electronic device/phone.
· Cannot touch the phone except to activate the hands-free mode, and can only enable it when the device is installed or properly mounted to the windshield, dashboard, or center console in a manner that does not impede the operation of the motor vehicle.
· Not allowed to touch the device for texting, emailing, apps, video, or internet use.
· Activation of GPS navigation is permitted when the device is installed or properly mounted.
· Handheld use is allowed only if the vehicle is both stationary and not located in a public travel lane or a bicycle lane, but is not allowed at red lights or stop signs.
· Voice to text and communication with electronic devices is legal only when the device is properly mounted; use of a headphone (one ear) is permitted.
Drivers who are under 18
· Are not allowed to use any electronic devices. All phone use while driving is illegal, including the use of hands-free devices.
Ending distracted driving starts with you, so renew your focus on road safety. Make a commitment in 2026 to be phone-free and encourage your friends and family to join you. It’s not just the law, it’s your safety. The Mapfre Insurance-sponsored MassDOT Highway Assistance Program is on patrol to help all motorists, including motorcyclists, on the highways. Patrol operators monitor some of the state’s busiest highways around Metro Boston, Worcester, Springfield, and Cape Cod (seasonal). The Highway Assistance Patrol covers 13 major state roadways and interstates, the Emergency Service Patrol covers the Mass Pike (I-90) from New York to Boston and the Incident Response Operators cover the Metropolitan Highway System and tunnels. The Highway Assistance Patrol is in service Monday–Friday between 6 a.m.–10 a.m. and 3 p.m.–7 p.m. During holidays, there are extended routes in heavy-traffic areas. On I-90, and in Boston’s tunnel system, assistance is provided 24 hours per day, 7 days a week.
Written by,
Your friends at Mapfre Insurance
