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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Matt Bradford |
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House passes ban on texting, hand-held cell phone use while driving
HARRISBURG, Jan. 29 – State Rep. Matt Bradford, D-Montgomery, said that legislation to ban the use of hand-held cell phones while driving, including text-messaging, passed the state House this week.
"As a co-sponsor of this legislation, I'm proud to be a part of this effort that will save lives and make Pennsylvania roads safer," Bradford said. "Anyone who has seen the obvious potential for a tragedy with so many new technologies being utilized by so many younger drivers realizes that the time to ban this potentially dangerous practice is now. I urge the state Senate to act swiftly on this important bill."
The state House passed H.B. 2070, which would make texting and hand-held cell phone use while driving a primary offense in Pennsylvania. The bill would make violations punishable with a $50 fine. Fines would be doubled to $100 if the offense happens in a school zone, active work zone, highway safety corridor or emergency response area. Exceptions would be provided for law enforcement officers, drivers of mass transit vehicles, operators of emergency vehicles when on duty, and leeway would be provided for drivers to use a hand-held cell phone to report a traffic accident or make a 911 emergency call.
Studies from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Virginia Tech, Carnegie Mellon and the University of Utah have all shown that drivers who talk on their cell phones are three to four times more likely to be involved in a crash. According to Pennsylvania Department of Transportation statistics, since 2003, there have been only 397 accidents in Pennsylvania where hands-free phones were a contributing factor, while 6,877 accidents listed hand-held phones as a contributing factor.
California, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Utah, Oregon, Washington and the District of Columbia have already enacted bans on the use of hand-held cell phones while driving.
House Bill 2070 now goes to the state Senate for consideration.