Brief Description: Including reports of driving distractions in accident reports.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Senators Eide and Swecker).

Senate Committee on Transportation
House Committee on Transportation

Background: Under current law, there is no requirement for law enforcement officers to indicate in their reports whether a wireless communication device was in use at the time of a motor vehicle accident or whether the driver was distracted at the time of the accident.

Summary: The Washington State Patrol must expand its traffic accident form, that is completed by an investigating officer, to include information disclosing whether any driver involved in an accident was distracted at the time of the accident. Additionally, the Washington State Patrol must include related statistical information in its yearly and monthly reports. Distraction categories to be collected and reported are to include at least the following:

• not distracted;
• operating a hand-held electronic telecommunication device;
• operating a hands-free wireless telecommunication device;
• other electronic devices (to include, but not limited to, PDA's, laptop computers, navigational devices, etc.);
• adjusting an audio or entertainment system;
• smoking;
• eating and/or drinking;
• reading and/or writing;
• grooming;
• interacting with children, passengers, animals, or objects in the vehicle;
• other inside distractions;
• outside distractions; and
• distraction unknown.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate      45   1
House      67   29

Effective: January 1, 2006