Families Push for ‘Hands-Free’ Laws to Curb Distracted Driving Crashes

Advocates, law enforcement officials, and families who lost loved ones in cell phone-related distracted driving accidents convened at an Orlando hotel on Wednesday to announce the creation of a new coalition aimed at making Florida a hands-free state. The \”Just Drive Hands-free Coalition\” will push for statewide \”hands-free\” legislation that would prohibit the use of mobile phones while driving.

CEO of stopdistractions.org, Jennifer Smith, who lost her mother in a distracted driving accident, believes it is essential to stigmatize the act of using a mobile phone while driving, similar to drunk driving. She stated during a press conference at a statewide conference to reduce crashes among teens, \”We don’t just simply text or talk on the phone anymore; we video call, live stream, pay bills, shop, and do everything while we’re driving. It is imperative to reverse this trend, and we need all hands on deck to change this behavior.”

If successful, the hands-free law would represent a significant shift from the current ‘no texting and driving’ law in Florida, which our recent Impact Check investigation revealed to include a laundry list of loopholes that make it difficult for police to enforce. Enforcement of the no texting and driving law has been lax, with very few citations issued since its enactment.

Last week, a 40-year-old Florida man was sentenced to 30 years in prison for causing a deadly crash that killed 9-year-old Logan Scherer in 2016. Gregory Andriotis was using his mobile phone to download apps and spreadsheets when he crashed into the Scherer’s SUV, killing Logan and injuring several other passengers. The conviction is considered the first cell phone-related distracted driving case to go to trial, resulting in a conviction and prison sentence.

At present, 27 states have passed hands-free legislation, with Alabama and Michigan being the most recent states to sign hands-free bills into law. Steven Kiefer, founder of the Kiefer Foundation, played a significant role in getting these laws passed, including the hands-free law in his home state of Michigan. Mitchell, Steven’s son, died in 2016 when a distracted driver using Snapchat on her cell phone slammed into the back of his car while he was driving back to Michigan State University from home.

Kiefer, who recently relocated to Florida, is familiar with the debates sparked by efforts to toughen the current no texting and driving law. However, based on his family’s tragedy, he is of the opinion that a stronger law focused on cell phone use while driving is necessary. Kiefer believes that data from states that have implemented similar laws demonstrates that reduced crashes and fatalities can be achieved. He cited figures that suggest some states have reported up to a 20% combined reduction in crashes and fatalities.

The coalition hopes to persuade a lawmaker from Florida’s GOP majority to sponsor a hands-free bill during the next legislative session.