{"id":44910,"date":"2019-09-30T13:33:21","date_gmt":"2019-09-30T17:33:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thelehighacresgazette.com\/news\/?p=44910"},"modified":"2019-09-30T13:34:15","modified_gmt":"2019-09-30T17:34:15","slug":"florida-is-now-hands-free-in-school-and-work-zones","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thelehighacresgazette.com\/news\/2019\/09\/florida-is-now-hands-free-in-school-and-work-zones\/","title":{"rendered":"FLORIDA IS NOW HANDS-FREE IN SCHOOL AND WORK ZONES"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV), with its division of the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP), advises all motorists that beginning October 1, motorists can be stopped for not operating a motor vehicle in a hands-free manner in a designated school crossing, school zone or active work zone area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

FLHSMV, in conjunction with the Florida Department of Transportation, Florida Department of Education, Florida Sheriff\u2019s Association, Florida Police Chiefs Association and AAA \u2013 The Auto Club Group, is leading Florida\u2019s Put It Down: Focus on Driving<\/em> campaign to ensure all motorists are aware of the state\u2019s new regulations regarding wireless communications while driving.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe hands-free aspect of the law makes school zones, school crossings and active work zones safer across our state and gives law enforcement a strong tool to educate drivers,\u201d said Governor Ron DeSantis<\/strong>. \u201cUsing a wireless device while driving is extremely dangerous, and all drivers should be focused on the road.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDistracted driving in work zones and school zones puts some of our most vulnerable road users at risk,\u201d said Senator Wilton Simpson<\/strong>. \u201cThere is never a safe time to use a wireless device while driving, nothing is more important than protecting lives.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI want our children to be the safest as possible when going to and from school,\u201d said Representative Jackie Toledo<\/strong>. \u201cThe hands-free aspect of this law will help ensure that parents, teachers, children and crossing guards are always safe and those who work on our roadways are able to come home to their loved ones.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFailing to pay attention in school zones, school crossings and active work zones can have devastating consequences,\u201d said FLHSMV Executive Director Terry L. Rhodes<\/strong>. \u201cDriving through these areas requires all of your attention and I implore motorists to pay attention to their surroundings and focus on driving.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis new law provides additional protection for Florida\u2019s children and the men and women working on our roadways,\u201d said Colonel Gene S. Spaulding, Director of the Florida Highway Patrol<\/strong>. \u201cTroopers will continue to educate motorists on every traffic stop and explain the dangers of distracted driving.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSafety for all road users is our number one priority at the Florida Department of Transportation\u201d said Florida Department of Transportation Secretary Kevin J. Thibault<\/strong>. \u201cDistractions from mobile devices have no place behind the wheel. It is more important than ever to practice good habits while on the road. It is up to each of us to make the commitment to drive distraction free, every trip, every time.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe are proud to partner with FLHSMV to promote safe driving habits while driving in a school zone,\u201d said Commissioner of Education Richard Corcoran<\/strong>. \u201cI applaud the Florida Legislature for passing this important law, and thank Governor Ron DeSantis for signing it. This is another opportunity for parents and educators to promote safe driving to Florida students.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe Florida Police Chiefs Association and its members see first-hand the deadly consequences of distracted driving,\u201d said Temple Terrace Police Chief Kenneth Albano, President of the Florida Police Chiefs Association<\/strong>. \u201cWe are happy that the Florida Legislature enacted a hands-free law for motorists who are driving in a designated school crossing, school zone or active work zone areas. These are some of our most vulnerable areas with heavy pedestrian traffic, so remember to put the phone down and keep your eyes on the road.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAAA wants to remind all motorists that hands-free is not risk free,\u201d said Matt Nasworthy, Florida Public Affairs Director, AAA \u2013 The Auto Club Group<\/strong>. \u201cThe only way to truly avoid distractions is to keep your eyes on the road, your hands on the wheel and your mind on the task of driving.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Drivers using a wireless communications device in a school crossing, school zone or active work zone will be issued warnings through December 31, 2019. Starting January 1, 2020, drivers will be cited for using any wireless communication devices in a handheld manner in these designated areas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Wireless Communications While Driving Law became effective July 1, 2019. From July 1 through September 24, 2019, there have been 463 warnings issued by Florida Highway Patrol for texting and driving. From July 1 through September 22, 2019, there have been 605 citations issued statewide by all law enforcement agencies for texting and driving. FLHSMV has released educational tear sheets to law enforcement agencies statewide to help disseminate messaging about the campaign.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The statewide Put It Down: Focus on Driving<\/em> campaign aims to raise awareness of and encourage compliance with the Wireless Communications While Driving Law. You can follow the campaign on social media with the hashtags #PutItDown and #FocusOnDrivingFL. The campaign media kit can be found at flhsmv.gov\/focusondriving<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV)<\/a><\/strong> provides highway safety and security through excellence in service, education and enforcement. FL is leading the way to A Safer Florida<\/em> through the efficient and professional execution of its core mission: the issuance of driver licenses, vehicle tags and titles and operation of the Florida Highway Patrol. To learn more about FLHSMV and the services offered, visit https:\/\/www.flhsmv.gov<\/a>, follow us on Twitter @FLHSMV<\/a>, find us on Facebook<\/a> or follow us on Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This year, the FLHSMV celebrates its 50th anniversary and its Division of the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) commemorates its 80th year. Learn more at flhsmv.gov\/behindthedrive<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV), with its division of the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP), advises all motorists that beginning October 1, motorists can be stopped… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":44911,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[128],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thelehighacresgazette.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44910"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thelehighacresgazette.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thelehighacresgazette.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thelehighacresgazette.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thelehighacresgazette.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=44910"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/thelehighacresgazette.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44910\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thelehighacresgazette.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/44911"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thelehighacresgazette.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=44910"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thelehighacresgazette.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=44910"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thelehighacresgazette.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=44910"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}