Capitol Comments by Peggy Bennett

 

Roughly four months ago, we were shocked by news that Blooming Prairie teacher Rachel Harberts had been driving her 8-year-old daughter, Emerson, and her 12-year-old son, Jaxon, to school when their car was horrifically rear-ended by another vehicle.

Rachel and Emerson died as a result of the crash. Jaxon was badly injured.

A friend and former co-worker of mine shares a similar story. Her dad, a well-known and much-loved school bus driver, had just finished his morning route. Still wearing a bright yellow school bus jacket, he went to pick up his mail along his rural county road when he was struck and killed by an oncoming motorist.

So, what ultimately caused these unnecessary deaths? Icy roads? Blinding sunlight?

Sadly, the answer points to something entirely preventable: Both drivers who caused the crashes admitted they had been texting while driving.

Stories like these are far too common. There’s not a Minnesotan around who hasn’t been touched in their home or their hearts by a texting while driving car crash. This is why I am working with Rep. Frank Hornstein, D-Minneapolis, this session as co-author and Republican lead on legislation that would require hands-free use of a cellphone while driving.

Current law states that it is illegal to text while driving in Minnesota. While that may sound like foolproof language, law enforcement tells us it’s anything but.

For example, while an officer can see if a person typing on their phone while driving, he or she is unlikely to determine whether the driver is calling home or programming a GPS, both of which are legal under current state law.

The legislation I am co-authoring would allow voice activated cellphone use only, along with one-touch or headsets, and would make it very clear to all Minnesota drivers: Put the phone down and keep your eyes on the road — or risk being pulled over. Current penalties will remain in effect, though increased and/or additional penalties will be debated in a separate bill.

Hands-free laws have proven to be effective. Twelve of 15 states saw a decrease in fatalities within two years of implementation (two states didn’t have sufficient data), and six of those 12 states saw a more than 20 percent decrease in fatalities.

I’m not one who would normally support adding more regulations to our books, but we know hands-free laws reduce the number of accidents, thus helping save lives. Worth noting: This bill has Republican and Democratic authors in both the House and Senate.

This measure is meant as a pro-active way to curb preventable car accidents, driver injuries, and motorist and passenger deaths. By requiring Minnesota’s drivers to keep their eyes on the road, we will keep more people safe. Hands-free cellphone use is simply the right thing to do.

State Rep. Peggy Bennett, R-Albert Lea, represents Minnesota House District 27A, which includes almost all of Freeborn County, along with parts of Faribault, Mower, Steele and Dodge counties. She can be reached by phone at 651-296-8216 or by email at rep. peggy.bennett@house.mn.