For Immediate Release
Thursday, May 17, 2019

Contact
Keyna Cory, 850.566.9575, keynacory@paconsultants.com
Kristen Bridges, 850.545.1917, kristen@bascomllc.com

FL DNT TXTNDRV COALITION Heralds Governor Ron DeSantis for Signing Texting While Driving Legislation into Florida Law

Tallahassee, Fla. – The FL DNT TXTNDRV COALITION, consisting of a group of law enforcement organizations, businesses and local governments supporting legislation to stop texting while driving, today heralded Governor Ron DeSantis for signing legislation into Florida law that will make texting while driving a primary offense, as well as create a hands-free area within school zones and construction zones where workers are present.

House Bill 107, relating to Texting While Driving, was sponsored by Senator Wilton Simpson in the Florida Senate and co-sponsored by Representatives Jackie Toledo and Emily Slosberg in the Florida House of Representatives. HB 107 will take effect on July 1, 2019.

Senator Simpson said, “This commonsense legislation will save lives and I am incredibly grateful to my partners in the legislature and to Governor DeSantis for taking this important step toward making Florida’s roads safer.”

Representative Toledo, said, “I’m thankful for Governor DeSantis’ support in making the safety of Floridians a priority. This commonsense legislation will address a growing epidemic and ultimately save lives. The measure will give law enforcement the tools they need to make our roads safer while acting as a deterrent to get people to put down their phones and concentrate on driving.”

Representative Richard Stark, who was a co-sponsor of HB 107 this year and sponsor in previous years, said, “Distracted driving, especially texting while driving, has created hazardous conditions that law enforcement has been unable to control. With the passage by the Florida Legislature and signing of the new distracted driving legislation by the Governor, Floridians can be assured that real efforts are being made to improve road safety conditions.”

Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer said, “This is an important step in our efforts to reduce the number of injuries and deaths caused by distracted driving. The City of Orlando is committed to making our community a safer place to walk, bike and drive and this legislation will go a long way towards helping meet the city’s Vision Zero goal of eliminating traffic deaths and serious injuries by 2040.”

FL DNT TXTNDRV COALITION Coordinator Keyna Cory said, “On behalf of the FL DNT TXTNDRV Coalition, representing thousands of Floridians, we want to thank Governor Ron DeSantis for signing HB 107 today. Thanks to the bi-partisan support in the House and Senate, texting while driving will become a primary offense. The coalition has been working on this issue since 2013 when the first law regarding texting while driving passed and became law. Today, we stand with the Governor and Legislature in an effort to make Florida’s highways and neighborhood streets safer for all.”

Debbie Wanninkhof, mother of Patrick Wanninkhof who was killed by a cell phone distracted driver said, “Texting While Driving as a Primary Offense with Hands Free in School Zones and Work Zones is soon to become law in Florida. Twenty-one million Florida drivers, 116 million yearly visitors, pedestrians and cyclists will be safer on our roads because of it. The goal is to deter offenders and change the culture around distracted driving, making it unacceptable just like drunk driving. We all need to be committed to road safety to protect everyone in our state.”

Dori Streeter, mother of daughter involved in a distracted driving incident said, “I live in Plant City, Florida. The most dangerous highway in America runs through our beautiful country town and traffic fatalities along the Interstate 4 corridor are unbelievable. Six years ago, my daughter and her friends were hit directly head-on at 60 mph by a driver driving in the left lane on a county road. They have lifetime injuries but we are blessed to have them here. I have been on a personal mission for two and a half years to help combat the dangerous driving epidemic. Thanks to all who are working so hard for this most important cause and God bless all that are affected by these horrific traffic accidents.”

American Property Casualty Insurance Association Regional Manager Logan McFaddin said, “Strong auto safety laws and enforcement are an important step in combatting a growing distracted driving epidemic that is endangering everyone on the road. Governor DeSantis and members of the Florida Legislature made history today by signing into law legislation that will make texting while driving a primary offense and create a hands-free zone within school and work areas. When this law goes into effect on July 1, 2019, our roadways will be safer and lives will be saved. We congratulate Senator Simpson and Representatives Toledo and Slosberg for their unwavering commitment to see this legislation through in order to save lives.”

FSU Police Chief and Florida Police Chiefs Association President David Perry said, “By signing HB 107, the distracted driving bill, Governor Ron DeSantis just saved countless lives. The Florida Police Chiefs Association applauds Governor DeSantis and the Florida Legislature for working together to help law enforcement better protect the public we serve, and ensuring drivers keep both hands on the wheel and their eyes on the road. We especially want to thank the bill sponsors, Senator Wilton Simpson, Representative Jackie Toledo, and Representative Emily Slosberg, for their hard work and commitment to public safety.”

Florida Sheriffs Association President and Columbia County Sheriff Mark Hunter said, “Distracted driving is truly a killer. Sending or reading a text can take your eyes off the road for 5 seconds–at 55 mph, that’s like driving the length of an entire football field with your eyes closed. The Sheriffs of Florida are committed to protecting our citizens and visitors. Enforcing the crime of texting while driving as a primary offense, rather than a secondary offense, is essential because it will allow law enforcement to enforce the law and save lives in the process. We applaud the Florida Legislature for focusing on safety on our roadways.”

Florida PTA Vice President of Education Development Angie Gallo said, “The roads just became safer for the drivers of Florida, especially our youth. Florida PTA firmly believes that making texting while driving a primary offense will force drivers to put their phone down and save lives. We would like to thank Governor DeSantis for signing this great bill and are so appreciative of everyone who made this day possible.”

Uber Global Policy Lead of Road & Traffic Safety Nadia Anderson said, “At Uber, we are committed to safety and doing our part to help reduce the number of crashes on Florida roads. We commend Governor DeSantis for signing HB 107, which is intended to make our roads safer.”

AutoNation Executive Chairman Mike Jackson said, “As the country’s largest automotive retailer, the safety of the driving public is of primary concern to us. In fact, we have lobbied for years to make texting while driving a primary offense in the state of Florida. ‘DRV SFE’ is part of the AutoNation brand message and it’s something that we take very seriously as a company.”

NAMIC Southeast Regional Vice President Liz Reynolds said, “Thanks to the governor’s signing of this important bill, Floridians will no longer be able to text and drive with abandon. We sincerely hope that with this new law, knowing that they now can be cited for distracted driving as a primary offense, Florida’s drivers will finally put down their phones, pay attention to the road, and increase safety for everyone.”

Sentry Insurance Government Affairs Regional Director BG Murphy said, “Distracted driving has serious implications for our insureds and all Floridians who share roadways across the state. We commend Governor Ron DeSantis and the Florida Legislature for taking the appropriate steps to curb distracted driving which will ultimately make our roadways safer.”

National Waste & Recycling Association FL Chapter Chair Charlie Latham said, “Safety is a high priority for the members of National Waste & Recycling Association. Too many of our workers have been killed or injured by people distracted while driving. Making texting while driving a primary offense will help keep our employees safe while they are on the streets.”

Naples Pathway Coalition Executive Director Michelle Avola said, “Distracted driving has become an epidemic, normalized in today’s culture. This legislation is an important step that will lead to lives being saved. Thank you, Governor DeSantis, for signing into law this legislation that will motivate drivers to put down their phones and focus on the road.”

Personal Insurance Federation of Florida President Michael Carlson said, “We applaud the Governor for swiftly signing a bill that makes an immediate, lifesaving impact. Technology often moves faster than our laws, and this will go a long way in setting the tone for safety and protecting generations of Floridians.”

Blue Zones Project – SWFL Community Policy Specialist Jessica Crane said, “Florida continues to top lists as being the most dangerous state for pedestrians and bicyclists. We appreciate the legislators for taking this necessary step in an effort to make our roads safer for all modalities.”

Chemours FL Plant Manager Nicole Newell said, “Our goal is to make Florida’s roads safer. Texting and driving is an epidemic on our roadways, and we want to do our part to help put an end to it.”

Advocate and Sophomore at the University of Florida Mark Merwitzer said, “I am beyond joyed to see this commonsense and life-saving bill pass this year. As a member of a generation that uses smartphones the most, it is imperative that we show my colleagues how to properly and safely use technology behind the wheel, which is not using it at all.”

WKMG-TV News 6 Anchor Matt Austin said, “It was a long and hard fight. But now after nearly three years, 100 stories, more than a dozen trips to Tallahassee, and thousands of miles driving around Florida to track down decision makers, I am relieved Florida politicians finally did the right thing. They made safety a priority. We had to ask our elected officials tough questions and demand answers. When they tried to sidetrack the answers, we drove back to Tallahassee until they answered and began working on solutions. It was about holding them accountable until they could no longer back down.”

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