It’s alarmingly common to see South Florida drivers attempting to text while driving, a common reason for crashes. In an effort to try and put a stop to it, Florida lawmakers are once again seeking to devise a solution.
Senate Bill 144 (SB 144) would change texting and driving from a secondary to a primary offense if the driver is under the age 18. Since it is currently a secondary offense for all drivers, a law enforcement officer cannot issue a ticket to the driver unless he or she is being pulled over for doing something else illegally. SB 144 would change these laws, and there is also a proposed bill aimed at making texting while driving in a school zone a primary offense.
The Florida Highway Patrol reported over 4,300 crashes in 2015 that were caused by distracted driving, and that’s in Miami-Dade County alone. In Broward County, more than 3,500 crashes involved distracted driving. Florida is one of only five states where distracted driving does not have primary enforcement.
Do you think SB 144 is a step in the right direction in fighting the texting while driving situation? Maybe you’re one of those people wondering why it isn’t already a primary offense. Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
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