Safety as Floridians Expect Chairman Jim Smith scolds Anne Richmond from using her cell phone in a light-hearted moment pointing out the unsafe practices of cell phone use in a vehicle during an interview with reporters.
The Florida Legislature begins their second of a 60-day legislative session Feb. 27 including three state house bill proposals, and five senate bills that plan to prohibit use of cell phone use while operating motor vehicles except when usinga headset or hands-free devices. Safety As Floridian’s Expect Chairman Jim Smith, a Delray Beach resident, said he is championing the bills and asking his 15,000-plus member alliance to do the same in supporting local congress representatives who have interest in the bills.
“I’m hoping for a full cell phone bill banning the use of cellular telephones while driving will pass. We’ll know in a bout two months,” Smith said.
The exception would be hands-free devices.
Smith said even if the ban doesn’t take place this year, just getting the bills heard means safety is on the right track. He cites ongoing SAFE research that began in 2002. That research points out that many countries have banned cell phones and currently levy fines. Norway is at the top of that list with fines of up to the equivalent of more than $600.
“Many bills do not become law until several years after they are first proposed - the seat belt law is a good example of such a bill. The same, slow path is likely for a ban on driver used cell phones. It should be noted that 48 countries ban driver cell phone use,” Smith said.