ROCK ISLAND, Ill. — A new year means new laws taking effect in Illinois, and in 2024 Illinois drivers will now be restricted from being on video conference calls while they're on the road. This includes popular apps like Zoom.
Sen. Mike Halpin (D-Rock Island) is one of the sponsors for the bill, and he said distracted driving is always a topic in the statehouse.
"We've seen a huge influx in those video conference calls," Halpin said. "Scott's law is sometimes implicated because people are distracted and don't notice that a vehicle stopped on the side of the road so it makes it a consistent concerns in the state."
According to Illinois State Police, more than 7,200 citations and 10,000 warnings for distracted driving were issued in 2022. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration statistics showed more than 32,000 people have died in distracted related crashes from 2011 to 2020.
The new law adds to current existing distracted driving laws, and Halpin says it won't impact phone calls as long as they're on hands-free devices, meaning you can use those apps as long as it's in an audio-only mode.
"With video conferencing, now adds a different dimension to it, a visual element where you could be distracted, taking your eyes off the road when you're not supposed to be," Halpin said. "I think it'll make people more conscientious about what they're doing while they're driving. I believe it'll prevent accidents, prevent injuries, and really just keep us looking out for each other out there."
For more laws taking into effect next year in Illinois, click here.
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