HARRISBURG, May 24, 2010 -State Senator Jim Ferlo (D-Pittsburgh) today admonished Senate Republican leadership for inaction on his amendment that would have made it a primary offense to ban cell phone use/texting for all drivers (H.B. 67).

The Senate voted 32-15 to table the Ferlo proposal, which would have applied the ban to all drivers, rather than just junior drivers.

“Senate Republicans have no excuse for burying this critical legislation,” Ferlo said.  “I have to wonder why anyone thinks adult drivers are any less distracted by chatting away on cell phones or diverting their eyes from the road to text message than teen drivers.”

“Talking on a cell phone or texting while driving is dangerous, distracting and irresponsible no matter who is driving. Accident reports carry the names of many innocent victims maimed or killed by distracted adult drivers to underscore this point.”

Ferlo added that despite the overwhelming support for House Bill 67, he cannot accept confining the ban on cell phone use while driving to just junior drivers.

“Legislation banning electronic devices use by all drivers has been pending in the legislature for well over a year. There have been numerous legislative discussions of the issue, extensive debate in the House on banning cell phones while driving and detailed statewide media coverage on the issue.”

The Ferlo measure would ban the use of a cell phone for calls or texting unless a hands-free devise is being used.  It also makes it a primary offense that would carry a $50 fine.  The fine would increase to $100 in a school zone.

It does not ban the use of hands free devices, GPS devises or 9-1-1 calls, a car that is stopped because of a traffic obstruction and is in neutral or park, or emergency vehicles. The cell phone in use will not be seized.

A Harvard study found that about one in 20 U.S. traffic accidents involve a driver talking on a cell phone; around 2,600 people die each year as a result of this use of the technology; and another 330,000 are believed injured.

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, there have been almost 6,900 injuries in Pennsylvania highway accidents that listed a handheld phone as a contributing factor since 2003. 

Ferlo introduced similar legislation in 2009 and has worked tirelessly for several years to see a full ban on the use of hand-held wireless devices while driving. 

“I see no reason to delay action on the bill.  There is no further study needed.  Either you support the ban for all drivers or not,” Ferlo said.  “Let’s put politics aside and take a vote. People’s lives literally depend on it.”

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