Are Oregon drivers under 18 allowed to use a cell phone or other mobile electronic device while driving?
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A.
Yes, but only with parental permission.
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B.
No, they may not use the device at all. Correct
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C.
Yes, but only when stopped at a red light.
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D.
Yes, if they use a hands-free accessory.
The answer is "No, they may not use the device at all."
No. The Oregon Driver Manual states it is illegal for drivers under 18 to use a cell phone or other mobile electronic device while operating a vehicle. The manual's recommendation is to turn it off or put it in the back seat and ignore it. The under-18 rule is stricter than the adult rule, which permits hands-free use.
The traps in the wrong answers
A. Yes, but only with parental permission.
Parental permission does not override the under-18 prohibition. The manual states the ban flatly, with no consent exception. Misreading: Misreads the rule as a parental-discretion restriction; the manual states the prohibition is a flat illegality, with no consent exception.
C. Yes, but only when stopped at a red light.
The prohibition applies while operating the vehicle, even at red lights. Misreading: Misreads 'while operating a vehicle' as excluding momentary stops; the manual draws no such carve-out.
D. Yes, if they use a hands-free accessory.
Hands-free use is the rule for drivers 18 and older. For drivers under 18, all use of a cell phone or other mobile electronic device while operating a vehicle is illegal. Misreading: Misapplies the manual's adjacent 18-and-older rule (hands-free accessory required) to under-18 drivers; the manual makes the under-18 prohibition total, with no hands-free exception.
This question tests your knowledge of Distracted Driving in Oregon. Source: Oregon Driver Manual, "Distracted Driving," p.80..
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