• by Erik Sass , Staff Writer @eriksass1, August 1, 2013

State legislators in Louisiana have expanded the ban on texting while driving to include accessing social media behind the wheel. The law, signed by Governor Bobby Jindal on May 30 and taking effect today, prohibits drivers from using “any web-based service that allows individuals to construct a profile within a bounded system, articulate a list of other users with whom they share a connection, and communicate with other members of the site,” with a fine of up to $175 for the first offense and up to $500 for subsequent offenses.

Lawmakers moved to amend the existing law following complaints from law enforcement that drivers were exploiting a technicality to avoid fines, by arguing that using social media was not the same as sending text messages. The law specifically bans use of mobile devices that require “manual input” to “read, write, or send” messages, implying that “hands free” access (using voice commands to dictate messages) is still permissible. Interestingly the ban does not prohibit Web surfing in general, just social media.

Although “hands free” systems are widely considered safer than manual texting while driving, that’s not necessarily true, according to a study performed for the Automobile Association of America by researchers at the University of Utah. The study, titled “Measuring Cognitive Distraction in the Automobile,” found voice-to-text dictation is more distracting than using a handheld cell phone or talking to a passenger.

Another study by the Texas Transportation Institute at Texas A&M University found that voice texting is just as distracting to drivers as manual texting. The Texas A&M study looked at driver response times while using manual texting and voice-to-text software developed for iPhone and Android smartphones. It found that drivers navigating a closed course with stoplights displayed a comparable level of distraction -- and therefore delayed response time -- regardless of which system they were using.