Florida Employers Taking Matters Into Their Own Hands to Ban Texting and Driving
While Florida is still one of the few states in the union that has no law on the books banning texting and driving, that hasn’t stopped a growing number of the state’s businesses and local governments from taking the matter into their own hands and forbidding the practice among their employees.
According to the Sun Sentinel, employers such as Walt Disney World and Orange County have already banned employees from texting and driving while they are on the job. The Seminole County School District is considering a similar ban that would put a stop to the practice when employees travel between facilities — even if they are driving their own vehicles. School officials in Lake County are talking about a ban for all workers driving district vehicles.
Concerns about safety and liability are driving more employers to confront an issue that the Florida Legislature seemingly lacks the political will to tackle, even though surveys show that a majority of Florida’s drivers would favor a law that prohibits texting and driving.
In 2009, one percent of drivers admitted to texting and driving. Today, that number is 12 percent. A public-policy manager for the Automobile Association of America (AAA) told the Sun Sentinel that the prevalence of employers willing to adopt anti-texting rules shows how dangerous the situation has become.
According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, distracted driving was to blame for 25,156 accidents last year. In total, 180 of those crashes were directly attributed to texting while driving.
Drivers who are texting and driving are a hazard on Florida’s roads and highways. If you’ve been injured in an accident caused by a distracted driver, you may be entitled to compensation for medical bills, hospitalization, and other damages. A cell phone accident lawyer at Farah & Farah in Jacksonville is ready to take your call if you want to discuss your legal options. Call (800) 533-3555 for a free consultation.
