One of the first rules of the road a young driver learns is, keep your eyes moving. While cellular phones have become an integral part of our everyday lives, they have taken our eyes off the road and the other drivers. Illinois laws regarding driving and cell phone usage are designed to get our hands back on the wheel and our minds on the road. What are they?

List of offenses:

No texting
No web surfing
No checking or reading email or Facebook
No use of handheld phones while in construction or school zones
School bus drivers are prohibited from talking on phones while driving a bus
Using a handheld phone while driving in the Chicago city limits
Using a cell phone while driving under a learner’s permit
Persons under the age of 18 using a cell phone while driving

There are exceptions to every rule.

Here’s what is allowed:

Using your GPS while driving
Texting while stuck in a traffic jam if the car is in park or neutral
Texting if you are parked on the shoulder of the road

Still another important law is in relation to state mandated auto insurance requirements. Uninsured drivers can expect to receive a misdemeanor if they injure someone while driving without auto insurance. Violators face a $$2,500 fine or up to a year in jail.

Concentrating on your driving should be your first priority. Remember that first rule from driver’s education. Keep your eyes moving and keep them on the road. Resist the temptation to break the cell phone laws. Within the law, use common sense.