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Cycling and safety advocates urge delegation to pass hands-free driving law
Summary
Bike Walk Indian River County and other advocates urged state lawmakers to enact hands‑free driving legislation, saying such laws reduce crashes 10–20% and protect cyclists and pedestrians; they noted prior bills passed one chamber but did not become law.
Advocates for pedestrian and cyclist safety urged Indian River County's legislative delegation to press for hands-free driving legislation that would make holding a mobile phone while driving illegal.
Hal Lambert of Bike Walk Indian River County reviewed the legislative history — bills that passed one chamber and stalled in the other — and told the delegation that hands-free laws have bipartisan support and are in place in 34 other states. He said such laws reduce crashes by between 10% and 20% and cited distracted driving statistics, including an assertion that nearly "3 of these deaths" per day in Florida are attributed to distracted driving. (SEG 1396–1464)
Lambert said hands‑free is particularly important to protect people walking and riding bikes because "bike lanes and sidewalks will not protect you from a distracted driver," and he noted local elected officials have passed resolutions supporting hands-free measures. (SEG 1396–1464)
Next steps: advocates asked the delegation to continue support for a hands‑free bill in the current or next session and to coordinate with local law enforcement and municipal partners to shore up enforcement and public education.
