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Washington state forbids all handheld phone use while driving
Ian Waldie/Getty Images

Washington state forbids all handheld phone use while driving

If you live in the state of Washington, you need to stop checking texts at red lights.

Washington state has a new law about distracted driving that went into effect on Sunday, banning all handheld use of electronic devices, including calls and text messages. In 2016, distracted drivers are believed to have been at fault for 156 deaths.

Drivers can’t use their phones even while stopped at a red light; however, they can set smartphones into a dashboard cradle to use navigation, stream music or call someone using voice activation, the Seattle Times reported. Jeffy Fisher thought the provision for red lights was taking safety too far on this week’s episode of “The Jeff Fisher Show.”

People checking their phones at a red light could be subject to a $136 fine.

“That’s the time that you text people!” Jeffy said incredulously.

The new distracted driving law could be good news for Uber since it discourages people from driving themselves, Jeffy pointed out. If another person is driving, you can be free to check your phone as much as you want.

Jeffy even had a new suggested slogan for Uber: “Make people want to not drive, so they can call me for a ride.”

The new law also makes eating and "grooming" a secondary offense.

To see more from Jeffy, visit his channel on TheBlaze and listen live to “The Jeff Fisher Show” Saturdays 9 a.m.–noon ET, only on TheBlaze Radio Network.

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