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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Josh Shapiro |
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67 members join Shapiro in support of hand-held cell phone ban
HARRISBURG, Feb. 19 – State Rep. Josh Shapiro, D-Montgomery, introduced legislation today to make Pennsylvania’s roads safer by banning the use of hand-held cell phones while driving. House Bill 538 would require drivers to use hands-free devices if they want to talk on their cell phone while driving.
The legislation was introduced with 67 bipartisan co-sponsors. Shapiro said this represents increasing support for the measure. When Shapiro first introduced the bill during the 2005-06 session it had 31 co-sponsors. When he reintroduced the bill during the 2007-08 session it had 46 co-sponsors.
Shapiro said banning the use of hand-held devices protects drivers on the roadways from the dangers of physical impairment while driving. A National Highway Transportation Safety Administration study found that cell phones are the top distraction for drivers, and distracted drivers are three times as likely to be involved in a crash. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, hand-held cell phones contributed to 1,245 crashes on Pennsylvania roadways in 2007. In contrast, there were 56 crashes on the state’s roadways attributed to hands-free cell phones during the same year.
A study by the Public Policy Institute of California found that states that enacted hand-held cell phone bans while driving saw traffic fatalities decrease between 9 percent and 21 percent after the ban went into effect. With 1,491 traffic fatalities in Pennsylvania in 2007, Shapiro’s measure could save up to 313 lives on the Commonwealth’s roadways, according to the analysis done by the PPIC. California, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Utah, Washington state and the District of Columbia have already enacted bans.
"We will save lives on our roadways by simply disconnecting Pennsylvania drivers from their hand-held cell phones," Shapiro explained.
Under Shapiro’s bill, the use of hand-held cell phones while driving would be prohibited on all public roads in Pennsylvania. Exceptions would be provided for law enforcement officers, drivers of mass transit vehicles, and operators of emergency vehicles when on duty. Leeway would be provided for drivers to use a hand-held cell phone when they fear for their safety, are reporting a traffic accident, or are making a 911 emergency call. A violation would be a summary offense and, upon conviction, a person would be required to pay a $50 fine. There would be no points assessed to a driver who violates this law.
Shapiro represents the 153rd Legislative District in Montgomery County. For more information, visit www.pahouse.com/Shapiro.