House panel advances Florida bill banning handheld device use while driving

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – A Florida House committee favored a bill Thursday prohibiting drivers from using handheld devices in their motor vehicles while driving.

Rep. Allison Tant, D-Tallahassee, filed HB 1469.

“Florida already prohibits texting while driving. What this bill does will add use of all handheld devices, wireless communication devices to that prohibition,” Tant said to the committee. “It also includes the same enhanced enhanced penalties for school zones, school cross walk and work zones imposed on drivers who text while driving to those using their phones while driving in their hands.”

The Florida House Infrastructure Strategies Committee approved the measure unanimously 25-0.

Michelle Avola-Brown, executive director of Naples Pathway Coalition, expressed her support for the bill.

“On average, nine people die on Florida roads every day, and six of them are attributed to distracted driving. Drivers who text behind the wheel are 23 times more likely to be in a crash or near miss,” Avola-Brown said.

According to Avola-Brown, rear-end collisions are highly attributed to distracted driving. She also mentioned Florida having one of the highest road fatality rates in the country

“Our insurance rates reflect that,” Avola-Brown added. “Florida drivers kill more pedestrians than any other state. Florida drivers kill more people on bikes than any other state.”

Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd, in referencing current state law, previously called the text-only ban “useless.”

Rep. Cyndi Stevenson, R-St. Johns, also offered her support for the bill.

“It’s my understanding that it closes a loophole that will allow better enforcement of Florida’s hand free law,” Stevenson said.

Tant, who represents District 9, emphasized the bill’s significance in closing.

“I am filing this bill on behalf of a constituent who’s son was killed by someone on their phone,” Tant said.

Sen. Ana Maria Rodriguez, R-Doral, filed a similar legislation to HB 1469. It will take effect if fully passed on July 1.