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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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CONTACT: Matt
Vahey |
State Rep. Josh Shapiro |
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Hearing held on Shapiro bill to ban hands-on cell phone use while driving
ABINGTON, Sept. 7-- State Rep. Josh Shapiro, D-Montgomery, testified today at a House Transportation Committee hearing held at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wistar Institute on his legislation that would ban the use of hand-held cell phones while driving. The Transportation Committee hearing is the next step in bringing the bill up for a vote by the full House of Representatives.
House Bill 2821, introduced by Shapiro in June, would make it a summary offense to operate a motor vehicle while using a hand-held cell phone, carrying a $250 fine. Motorists would be allowed to use hands-free head-sets under the legislation. 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.
“It is my intention with this legislation to make our roads safer for everyone, to get drivers’ hands off their cell phones and on the wheel,” Shapiro said.
A study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shows that cell phones are the number one distraction for drivers, and distracted drivers are three times as likely to be involved in an accident.
Another study by Design Science, a Philadelphia based product design research firm, found that when drivers used a hands-free device as opposed to a hand-held cell phone, 71 percent of drivers steered more accurately, 100 percent of drivers had a faster brake time and 92 percent of drivers maintained more consistent speeds.
“The use of hand-held phones while driving contributed to more than 1,170 crashes in Pennsylvania in 2004 alone,” Shapiro said. “As the use of cell phones is on the rise, it is time to make Pennsylvania’s roadways safer for everyone by disconnecting distracted drivers.”
Connecticut, New York, New Jersey and the District of Columbia have laws banning the use of hand-held cell phones while driving.
Attention Radio News Directors: an actuality from Rep. Shapiro is available by calling 1-800-452-3001. Enter PA153 (7-2-1-5-3) and the pound sign (#) at the menu prompt to get today’s sound. For a fully packaged version of today’s sound, enter PA222 and the pound sign at the menu prompt. You can also download the sound in .mp3 format by visiting www.pahouse.com/mediacenter.
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