On January 25 the PA House of Representatives passed a bill banning hand held devices while driving that would impose a $50 fine on drivers using cell phones without hands-free devices. The Senate still has to vote on this bill. Currently 7 states (California, Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Utah, and Washington) and the District of Columbia ban driving while talking or texting on a cell phone.

Findings on the increased use of Hand-Held Devices among all drivers were reviled in September 2009 during the Distracted Driving Summit in Washington, DC hosted by Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. LaHood asked over 250 safety experts and industry representatives to help disclose the dangers distracted driving.

At the time, LaHood sited National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports showing nearly 6,000 people died and 500,000 people were injured in 2008 in crashes involving a distracted driver. The report also stated that every day in 2008, 800,000 people using a hand-held cell phone were also driving. The reports also show that the worst offenders are less than 20 years of age. For more information on the summit, watch Secretary LaHood’s video blog on distracted driving at www.dot.gov.

As a Philadelphia Accident Attorney I see the results of distracted driving on a daily basis, and I realize the importance of passing this bill. I just hope the PA Senate follows the lead of the House and passes this legislation.

,