House Bill 299 - Driving while Texting

Mike Luckovich, Atlanta Journal Constitution

While people are dying in automobile accidents because of texting, House Bill 299 died in Committee. Now WHY would this Bill fail? We are only one of fifteen states that don't ban texting. Even though texting is an extremely dangerous and stupid thing to do, the Bill died. Ask Jeff Clemens what happened? Didn't the Transportation and Highway Safety Subcommittee get the memo that taking your eyes off the road can kill people? More than likely it is the Democratic mantra that you can't legislate behavior even if that behavior kills. We have laws to protect people from themselves but not this time.

Use of Wireless Communications Devices While Driving: Creates "Florida Ban on Texting While Driving Law" prohibits operation of motor vehicle while using wireless communications device for certain purposes; provides exceptions; specifies information that is admissible as evidence of violation; provides for enforcement as secondary action; provides for points to be assessed against driver's license for unlawful use of wireless communications device resulting in crash.

Effective Date:
Last Event: Died in Transportation & Highway Safety Subcommittee on Friday, March 09, 2012 11:59 PM.

The Bill died just like people are dying in automobiles because the driver was distracted.

• About 6,000 deaths and a half a million injuries are caused by distracted drivers every year.
• While teenagers are texting, they spend about 10 percent of the time outside the driving lane they’re supposed to be in.
• Talking on a cell phone while driving can make a young driver’s reaction time as slow as that of a 70-year-old.
• Answering a text takes away your attention for about five seconds. That is enough time to travel the length of a football field.