FLORIDA: Lack of distracted driving laws hurts state in ranking

OFF THE WIRE
http://www.gainesville.com/article/20101120/ARTICLES/101129946/-1/entertainment?Title=Lack-of-distracted-driving-helmet-laws-hurts-state-in-rankingLack of distracted driving laws hurts state in ranking The state was critiqued on whether it had 14 laws, scoring well on only 7 By Cindy Swirko Staff writer

Published: Saturday, November 20, 2010 at 7:50 p.m. Last Modified: Saturday, November 20, 2010 at 9:44 p.m. ( page of 2 )

Florida's lack of regulations that ban distracted driving and require the use of motorcycle helmets led to a middling score among states in a road safety law survey conducted by the national Emergency Nurses Association.

The association scored states on whether they had 14 safety laws regarding seat belt use, child booster seats, driver's license requirements and restrictions, motorcycle helmets and distracted driving.

Florida scored a seven out of 14, below leaders such as Washington and Oregon with 14 but better than North Dakota at four.

Florida is in a minority of states that do not have distracted driving laws aimed at keeping motorists from texting, eating, messing with their GPS devices or other things that steal their concentration from driving.

It is one of 11 states that do not require booster seats for children up to age 8.

Lt. Patrick Riordan of Florida Highway Patrol Troop B, which covers Alachua and several neighboring counties, said lawmaking resides with the Florida Legislature and not the agency.

But he added that a lack of laws regarding motorcycle helmets and distracted driving does have an impact on the safety of Florida's roads.

"The evidence is there that by and large helmets are a piece of safety equipment that can make a difference in a crash, especially in the type of trauma that the head receives in a collision," Riordan said.

Only 21 states require motorcyclists to wear helmets.

Florida used to require helmets but repealed the law in 2000.

Gainesville police Sgt. Joe Raulerson, who heads GPD's traffic team, said he recently worked an accident in which the driver of a scooter survived because she was wearing a helmet