Will Texting While Driving Become Illegal in Florida?
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If Rep. Doug Holder, R-Sarasota, has his way, it will be. Rep. Holder has introduced a bill to make it illegal in Florida to text while driving.
Rep. Holder says the bill is not intended to prohibit cell phone use for talking, but "prohibit the operation of a moving vehicle while reading, manually writing or typing, or sending messages on electronic wireless communication devices." The bill was in response to the death of several teens in tragic accident last year in New York. It was determined that the driver was texting while driving.
Last month the National Safety Council came out with a recommendation to ban cell phone use for both talking and texting. They urged states to pass laws and educate drivers on the dangers associated with cell phone use while driving, both talking and texting.
The comments on the Gainesville.com in response to the ban from some texters are pretty scary:
One University of Florida student said "she's gotten good at texting while driving but does not recommend it for everyone." A 34 year-old "chronic texter" said while he "understands the logic of such a ban, he said he knows what he's doing behind the wheel while texting." Another UF student admitted he texted, "I'm not going to lie. I've done it myself, but it's dangerous. It's not for everyone. I'd be in favor of the bill even if it takes away my own freedom."
Personally I'm not a big fan of texting. I know I'm old school, but if I have a phone and someone else has a phone, why not just call them? But guess that's another topic for another time. Meanwhile, it appears that Florida may be headed toward a ban on texting while driving which may make us all safer on the highway.