Legislature Trying To Curtail Teen Auto Accidents

Eddie Farah

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Tallahassee lawmakers are trying to make driving safer for all of us by cracking down on left lane hogs. You've seen them going slow in the left passing lane while talking on their cell phone oblivious to lights. Often they aren't even wearing their seat belt.

Proposed Senate Bill 1266 and House Bill 357 would make it illegal to talk on the phone while driving in Florida. That's already the law in several states. Another proposed bill would extend the prohibition only to minors

The bill's sponsor, Sen. Carey Baker of Eustis believes that a ban just would not pass for adults talking on cell phones.

Teens are the focus of a number of proposed bills this legislative session. One would require all teenagers complete a driver education course before they get a driver's license. That is not the requirement now.

Another bill, SB 282 and HB 77 would prohibit those under the age of 18 to have more than three minor passengers in the car unless an adult is present. The sponsor now thinks even three is probably too many because every time you add a teenager tends to increase the risks of a crash.

Another bill would prevent minors for having any underage passenger for up to six months after they receive their license.

Finally another bill takes away a drivers license if a teen drops out of school, although critics say there is no connection between being in school and being a safe driver.