Posted: | January 2, 2013 02:06 PM |
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From: | Representative Joseph F. Markosek |
To: | All House members |
Subject: | Cosponsorship of Legislation: Expansion of Distracted Driving Prohibition |
In the near future, I will be reintroducing legislation (previously House Bill 2679) which would expand our current law against distracted driving to include a ban on the use of handheld devices while driving. Hands free use would be permitted. Teens and novice drivers would be prohibited from using all handheld and hands free devices while driving. Exceptions to the prohibitions would include the use of a GPS system, occasions when the vehicle is stopped because of a traffic obstruction or when a phone call is initiated. Additionally, this legislation would require PennDOT to develop a public education campaign to warn of the danger of distracted driving. Our current ban on texting while driving is a step in the right direction, but it fails to address the entire issue. Law enforcement agencies report that it is difficult to enforce. Nearly 60 people were killed on PA roads last year in more than 14,000 distracted driving crashes, according to PennDOT. Last session, this legislation was cosponsored by the following members: MARKOSEK, DePASQUALE, SCHMOTZER, KORTZ, M. SMITH, DeLUCA, READSHAW, BARBIN, K. BOYLE, BRADFORD, BRIGGS, CARROLL, CLYMER, D. COSTA, P. COSTA, DALEY, DAVIS, FRANKEL, GILLESPIE, JAMES, KULA, MAHONEY, MANN, MILLARD, PASHINSKI, SABATINA, SAMUELSON, K. SMITH, STEPHENS, WATERS, WILLIAMS, BOBACK, DEAN and GEIST. |
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View Attachment |
Introduced as HB693