National Group Praises Hawaii Cellphone Driving Law

A national nonprofit is cheering Hawaii’s new law that prohibits people from holding cellphones and other portable electronics while driving.

Jonathan Adkins from the Governors Highway Safety Association in Washington says Hawaii is the 11th state to ban handheld phone use for drivers.

Adkins says Hawaii’s new law is tougher than laws in most other states.

The group says the law also puts Hawaii among 40 states that bans texting. The law’s language defines use of a phone as holding it.

The law has exceptions for emergency calls.

Hawaii Sen. Kalani English says Hawaii’s counties already regulate distracted driving. He says the bill protects access to federal grant money.

Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie signed the law Monday along with a bill requiring adults to wear seatbelts in backseats of cars.