Two bills introduced in the Florida Legislature this session would prohibit drivers from continuously holding phones or other devices while operating a vehicle.

Senate Bill 1152 and House Bill 1241 would make it illegal to hold a phone while driving, except to activate or deactivate features, including hands-free accessories. Any sustained use would require hands-free technology.

Current Florida law bans texting while driving and prohibits handheld device use in school and work zones. The proposed legislation would expand restrictions statewide.

Michelle Avola-Brown, a coordinator for Hands-Free Florida, noted that 34 states have already adopted hands-free driving laws. She argued that existing Florida laws are difficult to enforce because drivers don’t have to prove what they’re doing on their phones.

Avola-Brown, who also leads the Naples Pathways Coalition focused on pedestrian and bicyclist safety, said distracted drivers are a leading cause of fatalities among the group’s members.

According to preliminary Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles data for 2024, nearly 300 people died, and more than 2,200 were injured in crashes involving distracted drivers.

The proposed bills would cover tablets, laptops, and gaming systems in addition to phones. Billy York, a senior instructor at Auto Safety Driving School in Tampa, supports the legislation and already prohibits students from using phones during driving lessons.

As of Wednesday, the Senate bill had been introduced, and the House bill had received a first reading. Similar legislation has been proposed in previous sessions but has not advanced to a full legislative vote.

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