Florida Passes Watered Down Texting While Driving Law
For the past four years, some members of the Florida Legislator have tried, unsuccessfully, to ban texting while driving. Last week, this small group of senators finally got a bill passed that limits, but does not fully ban texting while driving. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and states across the country have found texting behind the wheel to be the leading cause of cellphone related auto accidents. Let’s face it, a lot of people talk on the phone, sometimes on speaker phones or with handsfree devices. That is a distraction itself but texting while driving involves distracting the eyes AND the hands.
The new Florida law allows drivers to text while stopped at traffic lights or while sitting in traffic. It also places texting while driving under other circumstances as a secondary offense. This means that you must be pulled over for another traffic offense to receive the $30 fine for texting while driving. This minor consequence seems more of a pittance for the intrepid legislators fighting to protect our citizens than a deterrent to distracted driving.
The NHTSA estimates that over 3,000 people die and more than 350,000 are seriously injured in auto accidents involving distracted driving every year. If you have been injured or a loved one has been killed by a distracted driver, you need an aggressive personal injury attorney on your side to make sure justice is served.
The Florida personal injury lawyers at Colling Gilbert Wright have a combined 80 years of experience helping victims of serious injury get maximum compensation. We are prepared to take your case, fight for your rights, and help you get the full compensation you are due.
If you or a loved one has suffered harm in an auto accident caused by a texting driver, please contact Colling Gilbert Wright today to schedule a free consultation with one of our Florida personal injury attorneys.