Daytona Beach, FL - Several new laws go into effect on Tuesday, including a step-up in the Texting While Driving Ban. Effective October 1, 2019, drivers will need to be hands-free in active school and construction zones. Triple-A spokesman Mark Jenkins said this is a good step in raising awareness of distracted driving. This law requires you to put down your cell phone in the restricted areas.
On July 1 of this year, House Bill 107 gave the Texting While Driving Ban some legs by making it a primary offense. This means that law enforcement officers can pull a driver over for texting behind the wheel and give you a written or verbal warning. Beginning Tuesday, you will still only get a warning for not being hands-free in school or construction zones. That changes on January 1, 2020. At that time, if you have any type of wireless device in your hand in those zones, you will get a moving violation which includes a base $60 fine (not including court costs or other fees) and three points on your driver license.
"Floridians should not wait until 2020 to change their driving behavior," said Mark Jenkins, spokesman, AAA - The Auto Club Group. "Cell phones create dangerous driver distractions in any situation. School and construction zones are especially volatile environments, and if you're not paying attention bad things can happen fast. AAA urges all drivers to put their cell phones down and focus on the road."
Triple-A research shows that even if a driver is hands-free, the mental distraction of talking or texting while driving can last as much as 27 seconds after using the technology. An example: a driver traveling at 25 mph in 27 seconds could travel the length of three football fields while not having their full attention on the road.
"This research reminds drivers that even hands-free technology is dangerous to use while driving in construction and school zones," Jenkins continued. "Just having your hands on the wheel is not enough. It's important that drivers be focused on driving, so they can quickly react to any potential hazards on the road around them."
