In an effort to deal with the problem of distracted driving, the Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) has made it against the law for their cabbies to "use any type of electronic device -- cell phones, iPods, cameras, even hands-free devices -- while driving their charges around the city" (NBC New York). The laws go into effect in mid-January, and they are designed to give New Yorkers some relief.
Too often, riders have to watch helplessly as their driver barrels through traffic while he is talking on his hands-free phone. In several studies, including one by the University of Utah, it was found that people who talk on cell phones while driving (even the hands-free ones) are just as impaired as someone with a BAC limit of .08%: a drunk driver.
This law by the TLC carries some heavy fines for the driver that is breaking the rules. If they are caught violating the law, they could have their licenses suspended. If someone is caught doing it three times, the punishment could be that he loses his license forever.
This applies to all electronic devices, including touch-screen GPS devices. A couple of ways around this would be for the driver to put in the destination before he started driving or, as the Post says, for it to be a voice-activated GPS. However, this seems a little odd since a voice-activated GPS is so similar to a hands-free phone conversation. There is communication going on between the driver and the device telling him which way to go just like a phone conversation between the driver and another person.
One complaint that the drivers (and these laws apply to all TLC vehicles including "limos, commuter vans and taxi cabs") have is that with their long hours, not being able to talk will make them disconnected with their family. The rules don't apply when the driver does not have a passenger, so they can talk all they want when they are taking a break.
With new laws, we all have to adapt. Luckily, these new TLC laws seem to be for the better. Just like
Leandra's Law: while it is very harsh on offenders, it protects many people (New York Criminal Law Blog). If it is mid-January, and your driver is distracting himself, you can call 311 to report him. You can even write him up on Taxihack.com, where poor drivers are blasted for their bad service.
