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At AAA Auto Club South, one of
our driving principles is to protect
and advance freedom of mobility and improve travel safety. Florida’s Legislative Session is set to convene on March 2, at which time AAA will continue to work to make our roads safer by advocating for passage of the following laws.
Ban text messaging while operating a motor vehicle.
Text messaging is one of the many possible distractions that divert drivers’ attention. It merits special attention, however, due to the significant eyes-off-the-road and hands-off-the-steering-wheel time involved in reading, writing and sending messages—in addition to the cognitive distraction. The rapid proliferation of texting while driving makes it likely this risky behavior will increase if action is not taken.
Recent high-profile texting crashes, as well as a provocative PSA from the United Kingdom, have brought the dangers of distracted driving—and texting while driving in particular—into the public spotlight. AAA Foundation research, however, shows that approximately one in five U.S. drivers admitted to texting while driving at least once in the last 30 days. Multiple surveys of the general public and AAA’s membership show that 80 to 90 percent of Americans support texting bans.
There are a number of Florida State Legislators who have filed bills, and many others who are demonstrating their support by co-sponsoring bills, to ban texting while driving: Rep. Doug Holder (R-Sarasota), Sen. Nancy Detert (R-Venice), Sen. Thad Altman (R-Melbourne), Sen. Carey Baker (R-Eustis), Sen. Paula Dockery (R-Lakeland), Rep. Janet Long (D-St. Petersburg), and Sen. Frederica Wilson (D-Miami Gardens).
Require booster seats for children 4 to 7 years of age.
Florida is one of only three states that does not have a booster seat requirement law. Current Florida law requires child restraint devices for children through age 5, although for ages 4 through 5 a seat belt may be used in lieu of a specialized device. The appropriate restraint system for children 4 to 7 is either a front-facing safety seat or booster seat, depending on the child’s height and weight.
Children are ready to switch to adult belts when they are at least 4 feet 9 inches tall and they can sit with their back straight against a vehicle’s seat-back cushion and bend their knees over the seat edge without slouching. The safety belt should fit low across the hips and thighs, and across the shoulder and chest. It should not cut into the child’s abdomen or neck.
Rep. Rich Glorioso (R-Plant City) and Rep. Richard Steinberg (D-Miami Beach) are sponsoring a bill that would require booster seats for children ages 4 to 7. Sen. Thad Altman (R-Melbourne) is sponsoring this lifesaving measure in the Senate.
AAA encourages you to focus your full attention on the road while driving and model safe behavior when behind the wheel. Set a good example for teens and others by always buckling up and avoiding distractions in your own driving.
For more information on traffic safety, as well as AAA’s work on behalf of the motoring public, visit AAA.com/SafetyMatters.