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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. John Pallone
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Pallone votes for safer roads
Lends his support to bill banning texting, handheld cell phone use while driving
HARRISBURG, Jan. 26 – State Rep. John Pallone, D-Westmoreland/Armstrong, voted for legislation today that would ban texting and the use of handheld cell phones while driving in Pennsylvania.
The House passed H.B. 2070 today by a vote of 189-6; the bill now moves to the state Senate for consideration.
"It is unfortunate that we need to legislate such common sense as putting down your cell phone and keeping both hands on the wheel and eyes on the road when you are driving," Pallone said. "By penalizing drivers who engage in using handheld cell phones or texting while driving, we encourage all drivers to give their full attention to the road."
Pallone noted a July 2009 study released by Virginia Tech Transportation Institute concluded that the risk of a crash or near crash for truck drivers is 23 times greater when texting, and a University of Utah study of a driving simulator found that the crash risk for college students when texting is eight times greater.
A March 2009 Quinnipiac Poll found that 85 percent of Pennsylvanians surveyed support banning the use of handheld cell phones while driving. Six states -- California, Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, Oregon and Washington -- have banned handheld cell phones use for drivers, and 19 states ban text messaging while driving, according to the Governors Highway Safety Association.
House Bill 2070, sponsored by state Rep. Joseph Markosek, D-Allegheny/Westmoreland, would make it a primary offense for drivers to use handheld mobile phones, smart phones, personal digital assistants or portable computers while their vehicle is in motion. An exception would be granted for calling 9-1-1 and for emergency responders performing official duties.
Making a handheld mobile phone call or texting while driving would be punishable by a $50 fine. That fine would be doubled to $100 if the offense was committed in a school zone, active construction zone, highway safety corridor or emergency response area.
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