In 2012, there were at least 189 car crashes in Florida caused by people texting while driving. According to a recent change, however, it seems like Florida is trying to take a turn for the better. Governor Rick Scott signed a law that prohibits motor vehicle users from texting and driving at the same time, causing Florida to be the 41st state to have a law of the sort.
However, there are a lot of loopholes. Drivers aren’t allowed to text, but they are still allowed to use their phones to check the weather, for navigational purposes, listening to the radio, and using talk to text programs, like Siri. This law is also considered a secondary offense, meaning that law enforcement can only punish you for texting while driving if they catch you doing something else unlawful, like speeding or making an illegal U-turn. If you are caught, however, there is a first time fine of $30.
Unfortunately, some people don’t believe that this ban will be able to stop people from texting, as the law is a lot weaker in Florida in other states. But more optimistic people believe that this is a good first step in the right direction. They believe that soon enough, there will be less texting, less crashes, and safer streets.