House passes ban on texting
and hand-held cell phone use while driving  (Feb. 8, 2010)
Eugene DePasquale announced today that legislation which he helped craft banning the use of hand-held cell phones while driving, including text messaging, has passed the Pennsylvania House.
 
House Bill 2070 would make texting and hand-held cell phone use while driving a primary offense in Pennsylvania. The bill would make violations punishable with a $50 fine. Fines would be doubled to $100 if the offense happens in a school zone, active work zone, highway safety corridor or emergency response area. The funds generated would go towards driver education.
 
Also today, the U.S. Transportation Department announced it is prohibiting truck and bus drivers from sending text messages while operating commercial vehicles. This sends a clear message as to the importance of this legislation.
 
Studies from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Virginia Tech, Carnegie Mellon and the University of Utah show that drivers who talk on cell phones are three to four times more likely to be involved in a crash. According to Pennsylvania Department of Transportation statistics, since 2003, there have been only 397 accidents in Pennsylvania where hands-free phones were a contributing factor, while 6,877 accidents listed hand-held phones as a contributing factor.

 House Bill 2070 now goes to the Pennsylvania Senate for consideration.

Rep. De Pasquale wishes to thank all who signed his online petition and helped make this happen. For more facts and figures on distracted driving in Pennsylvania, click here.  

 
For more information about this or any other state-related matter, please contact Rep. DePasquale

.