Advocacy Alert: distracted driving hearing tomorrow

Legislation to limit distracted driving will be up for debate in a Missouri Senate hearing tomorrow, Tuesday March 1 and you have a chance to help move the bill forward.

Will you help?

Distracted driving puts everyone on our roads in danger, but the risk to people walking, biking is even greater. More than 2,500 crashes a year in Missouri involve people using their phones while driving. Likewise, 407 people were killed in crashes involving a distracted driver between 2016 and 2020.

This has to stop.

A Missouri State Senate bill sponsored by Greg Razer (Kansas City) restricting distracted driving would improve safety by restricting people from using electronic wireless communication devices (cell phones, smart phones, laptops, and other similar devices) while driving.

However, the legislation allows people to use a device while in “Hands-free mode” if:

 (1) it can be used without holding the device

(2) it can be used with the push of a single button, and 

(3) it doesn’t take the driver’s attention away from the road. 

The bill also allows important exemptions for emergency calls, emergency vehicles, navigation, etc.

Here is Trailnet’s review of the bill, for more details on the legislation.

This legislation will be heard in committee tomorrow morning. This bill is one of several different initiatives in the Missouri Senate and House to limit distracted driving and the first to receive a hearing this year. 

Stay tuned to Trailnet’s social media and newsletters for other opportunities to help advocate for distracted driving legislation this year.

Here’s how you can help:

1. Call or email lawmakers
   1. Start with members of the Senate Transportation, Infrastructure and Public Safety Committee
   2. Then, reach out to your local senator and representative
2. Share this with friends, family and other organizations who may be able to help.
3. Email kevinhahn@trailnet.org to get involved with the Hands Free Missouri Coalition

Below is a sample message for the emails or phone calls to lawmakers’ offices. Please take this and make it your own.

Senator/Representative ________ and staff:

My name is ______ and I’m reaching out to urge you to support hands-free legislation to help prevent deaths and injuries from distracted driving. 

Distracted driving is a real problem across the state with a real human cost. More than 2,500 crashes a year involve people using their phones while driving. Likewise, 407 people were killed in crashes involving a distracted driver between 2016 and 2020. This has to stop.

I urge you to support SB 713 and similar hands free legislation. 

The bill will improve safety by restricting people from using electronic wireless communication devices (cell phones, smart phones, laptops, and other similar devices) while driving. However, the bill allows people to use a device while driving if (1) it can be used without holding the device, (2) it can be used with the push of a single button, and (3) it doesn’t take the driver’s attention away from the road. The bill also allows important exemptions for emergency calls, emergency vehicles, navigation, etc.

You should support this legislation because:

• It will save lives and prevent injuries: similar laws passed in other states led to an average 15% reduction in fatal crashes within two years of passing the law.
• It will save money: the financial costs from these crashes affect individuals, their families, communities, employers  as well as insurance costs, lost wages, and the strain on our medical system. ​​According to the FHWA, each fatal Missouri crash caused by distracted driving results in $9.9 million in comprehensive cost, including $1.5 million in economic costs like emergency services, legal cost, property damage and lost wages and benefits.
• It is popular: in a 2020 poll, 69% of Missourians surveyed said they would support hands free legislation.

I hope you support this legislation and would love the opportunity to talk more with you or your staff.

Sincerely,

_________