Families Plead With Lawmakers To Pass 'Hands-Free' Driving Bill
ST. PAUL, Minn. (WCCO) -- Grieving families of victims killed by distracted drivers made an emotional plea Thursday at the State Capitol.
They're calling for a ban on hand-held cell phones while driving.
But what they got was frustration as time remains short for lawmakers this session.
"When you mix a phone and you mix a car together, it is the most dangerous thing," said Danielle Wishard-Tudor, of Chaska. "It takes less than 30 seconds to kill someone. That's how long it took to kill my brother, when someone was distracted."
A bill advancing in the Minnesota House would ban hand-held cell phone use while driving.
It would, however, allow voice activated phones and dashboard mounted GPS systems.
The bill's author, Rep. Mark Uglem (R-Champlin) says it could dramatically cut highway deaths.
"We're addicted to this. We all are," he said. "We walk around the hallways looking at texts, bumping into people, and we're doing the same thing on the roads."
Family members blame Republicans in the Senate for not advancing the bill.
The father of one victim is predicting more deaths.
"We are done. We have already lost our loved ones," said Vijay Dixit, of Eden Prairie. "We are not doing it for us. We are doing it for you."
About 70 people in Minnesota are killed every year by distracted drivers.
Sixteen states have passed laws restricting phone use while driving, including Georgia just a couple of weeks ago.
