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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Eugene DePasquale |
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House passes ban on texting, hand-held cell phone use while driving
HARRISBURG, Jan. 26 – State Rep. Eugene DePasquale, D-York, said that legislation to ban the use of hand-held cell phones while driving, including text-messaging, passed the state House today.
"I'm proud to have been part of the effort to ban cell phone use while driving, and to improve the safety of our roadways for Pennsylvania drivers," DePasquale said.
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.
"This movement in the state House falls at a time when our federal government sees a need to help banish this unsafe habit as well," DePasquale said. "Just today, the Transportation Department announced it is prohibiting truck and bus drivers from sending text messages while operating commercial vehicles. I think this sends a clear message as to how important this legislation is. I urge my colleagues in the state Senate to take quick action to pass this bill."
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.
DePasquale has long advocated for a statewide ban on the use of hand-held cell phones while driving and introduced similar legislation banning text-messaging while driving. 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.
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