Garlick Says No to Distracted Driving

Sharing the grave concerns of injury and death related to distracted driving, State Representative Denise Garlick joined with her colleagues to ban drivers from using hand-held electronic devices in vehicles.

The use of mobile devices while driving has led to heartbreaking tragedies across the Commonwealth, and across the country. According to a report by American Automobile Association (AAA), 4,637 people died in car crashes in 2018 due to cell phone use across the nation.

“I voted to make our Commonwealth’s roads a safer place for each and every one of its residents,” said Representative Garlick. “Distracted driving is an important national safety issue and adopting hands-free legislation has proven to be effective in lowering the rate of distracted driving in other states. The heartbreaking tragedies that can occur when drivers are distracted underscore the need for this legislation. This bill will help to ensure that there terrible occurrences are fewer and further between. The language of the bill bolsters existing law and data collection to ensure that this bill is not used to engage in racial profiling.”

In an effort to combat injury and death, this legislation prohibits the hand held use of electronic devices while driving. More specifically, this bill:

• Allows for drivers to use mapping or navigation devices if they are affixed to the windshield or integrated into the vehicle and only involve a tap or a swipe;
• Exempts the use of electronics in the case of an emergency and for first responders if they are using the devices as part of their duties;
• Builds off and bolsters existing law by creating compliance measures, requiring the inclusion of race on the uniform citation, and extending this practice to all jurisdictions;
• Requires jurisdictions – if data suggests those jurisdictions may be engaging in racial profiling – to collect data on all traffic stops for a one-year period; and
• Creates a public awareness campaign informing and educating the dangers of using technological devises while driving and the obligations of drivers under this bill.

The bill will now be sent to the Governor’s desk for signature.