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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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CONTACT:
Lauren Rooney |
State Rep. Josh Shapiro |
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Shapiro working to disconnect distracted drivers
HARRISBURG, June 7 -- State Rep. Josh Shapiro, D-Montgomery, will introduce legislation this month aimed at keeping drivers’ hands on the wheel and eyes on the road. Shapiro’s bill would ban the use of hand-held cell phones while driving; drivers would be allowed to use hands-free head-sets under the legislation.
“The use of hand-held phones while driving contributed to more than 1,170 crashes in Pennsylvania in 2004 alone,” Shapiro said. “It is time to make Pennsylvania’s roadways safer for everyone by outlawing this distracting and dangerous activity.”
According to a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration study, cell phones are the No. 1 distraction for drivers. The study found distracted drivers are three times as likely to be involved in a crash.
The study also found the act of driving while on a cell phone is on the rise. In 2005, 10 percent of those on the road during the day were using cell phones, up from 8 percent in 2004.
Under Shapiro’s legislation, the use of a hand-held cell phone while driving would be prohibited on all public roads in the state. A violation would be a summary offense and carry a $250 fine.
Exceptions to the bill would include law enforcement officers and operators of emergency vehicles when on duty and acting in their official capacities, and drivers who have reason to fear for their safety or are making an emergency 911 call.
Connecticut, New York, New Jersey and the District of Columbia have laws banning the use of hand-held cell phones while driving.
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