Why You Should Never FaceTime and Drive
Texting behind the wheel is dangerous enough, but video calling may be worse. Holding a live video conversation while driving combines every form of distraction into one, and it is exactly the kind of behavior Utah’s distracted driving law is designed to stop. Here is why it is so dangerous, and what it means if a distracted driver hurt you.
Video calling while driving is illegal in Utah and one of the most dangerous things a driver can do. It takes your eyes, hands, and mind off the road at the same time. A driver who causes a crash while on a video call can be found negligent, and their phone records can prove it.
Why video calling is the worst kind of distraction
Safety experts describe three types of distraction: visual (eyes off the road), manual (hands off the wheel), and cognitive (mind off driving). Most distractions involve one or two. A video call involves all three at once. You are looking at a screen, holding the phone, and mentally engaged in a conversation. At highway speed, a few seconds of that is enough to cause a serious crash.
It is against the law in Utah
Utah’s distracted driving law prohibits manipulating a handheld device to view or send data while driving, which covers video calls. It is a primary offense, meaning an officer can pull a driver over for it alone. A driver who ignores that law and causes a crash has strong evidence of negligence stacked against them.
If a distracted driver hurt you
- Get medical care right away, even if you feel okay.
- Document the scene and note anything suggesting phone use.
- Do not give a recorded statement to the other driver’s insurer.
- Talk to an attorney who can move quickly to preserve phone and app records.