|
|
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
|
CONTACT: Bill
Thomas |
State Rep. Eugene DePasquale |
|
|
|
|
|
|
DePasquale introduces bill to ban ‘driving while texting’
HARRISBURG, May 21– State Rep. Eugene DePasquale, D-York, has introduced legislation that would improve highway safety and reduce driver distraction by banning drivers from sending or reading text messages while their vehicle is in motion.
DePasquale said that although driver distractions of any kind lead to unsafe road conditions, drivers reading or typing on their cell phones pose a particular threat to other drivers. He said not only are a driver’s hands off the wheel in that case, but their eyes are often off the road ahead, as well.
“It’s a common-sense measure,” DePasquale said. “If you are too distracted reading and writing e-mails or text messages rather then paying attention to what’s going on in front of you, then there is a greater chance you will cause an accident.”
DePasquale said he recently read a study conducted by Nationwide Insurance that reported one in five drivers “text” while driving. He added that the statistics soar to around one in three among drivers between the ages of 18 and 34.
“The advent of technology allows us to be in constant and immediate communication with anyone, anywhere,” he said. “But it is just unsafe to have your eyes buried in the screen of a cell phone or Blackberry and your hands frantically typing away on the small keyboard while you are controlling a two-ton moving object. This really is just common-sense legislation.”
The bill would assess a $100 fine for violations. Exceptions would be provided for law enforcement officers and operators of emergency vehicles when on duty, as well as for drivers reporting an emergency or traffic accident.
DePasquale said several states, including Arizona, Connecticut and New Jersey, are considering similar proposals. Earlier this month, Washington state became the first state in the nation to adopt and sign into law a ban on text messaging while driving.
###wt/2007/mjh
l:\print\releases\texts_intro.095