Every 44 seconds, a crash happens on Florida’s roads. According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles , one in seven crashes is caused by a distracted driver.
Now, state lawmakers are taking steps to crack down on distracted driving.
Senate Bill 1318
aims to make it illegal for drivers to have their phones in hand while behind the wheel.
Today, Naples City Council showed support for the bill, also known as the " Hands-Free Driving " bill.
On Tuesday, it was approved by the Senate Rules Committee bringing it a step closer to becoming law.
If the bill passes, drivers will still be allowed to use their phones, but only in hands-free mode. If the phone is in a holder, drivers could press one button to activate voice commands, open an app, or perform other limited functions.
According to the bill, “A driver may activate, deactivate, initiate, or terminate a feature or function of the device by one finger touch but not while holding the phone or having it rest on any part of the body."
Red lights would not be an exception. Drivers who want to use their phones would need to leave the roadway and park.
The bill would make using a phone while driving a primary offense, meaning law enforcement could pull drivers over solely for violating the hands-free rule.
Advocates say this could save lives. Michelle Avola Brown, the chair of Hands Free Florida and the Naples Pathways Coalition executive director , highlighted the benefits seen in other states that have adopted similar laws.
“This is a solvable problem. These deaths are preventable. We just need this bill to go through and become a law, and we're going to reap the benefits of the other 31 states, who have seen dramatic drops in road fatalities. Florida deserves safer roads, too,” Brown said.
Jane Gardner, a Naples resident, says it's sort of a gray area.
“A friend of mine's husband was killed by a distracted driver while he was cycling as well. So, I do think you shouldn't be texting while you're driving. You shouldn't be FaceTiming. You shouldn't be watching reels while you're driving,” Gardner said. “But when you're completely stopped, you know, something's ... I don't know. So it's a slippery slope."
The bill now heads to the Florida Senate for a full vote.
If passed, the law would take effect on Oct. 1.