A bill in the Florida Senate, SB 1318, or “Bill Hands-Free Driving,” is moving forward after the Rules Committee recently gave its approval.
The bill would broaden current texting-while-driving laws to ban the use of handheld wireless devices while driving. The bill also incorporates enhanced penalties, although not all drivers support these changes.
The bill, sponsored by Sen. Erin Grall, R-Vero Beach, would rename the state’s current law to the “Florida Hands-Free Driving Law.” Under the proposed changes, drivers would only be permitted to use a mobile device through a hands-free accessory, such as Bluetooth. Exceptions are made for emergencies, navigation or certain official duties.
The legislation provides precise information that represents what qualifies a “hand-held manner,” including physically supporting a phone with any body part, such as a person’s shoulder or lap. It also adds more in-depth clarification to “hands-free accessory” as any built-in feature or device that enables voice-activated operation without physical contact.
“This is about improving safety and modernizing our approach to distracted driving,” Grall said during the April 1 committee hearing.
If passed, the bill would also impose harsher penalties, including up to a $1,000 fine and license suspension for multiple infractions involving red-light or stop sign violations that result in crashes.
The companion bill in the House, HB 501, is sponsored by Rep. Allison Tant, a Democrat from Tallahassee. However, that bill has not seen the same momentum and has yet to be placed on the calendar for debate in any committee. While SB 1318 was scheduled for a vote on the Senate floor on April 9, the path forward in the House remains unclear, leaving some advocates concerned that the measure may not make its way to Governor Ron DeSantis for approval.
Previous versions of similar hands-free driving proposals have failed in previous sessions due to concerns about enforcement and civil liberties. This time, lawmakers hope that the inclusion of clearer exceptions and additional safety data will help the bill gain traction.
According to the official bill analysis, the legislation aims to “improve roadway safety for all vehicle operators, passengers, bicyclists, pedestrians, and other road users” and to reduce crashes, injuries and deaths caused by distracted driving.
Drivers caught violating the proposed law in a work or school zone would face a moving violation and incur points on their license. First-time violators could opt to attend a safety course in place of paying a fine and receiving points. Repeat offenders could see increased penalties and longer suspensions.
In 2023, Florida reported a staggering 395,175 traffic crashes, with 3,375 resulting in tragic fatalities, according to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Furthermore, an additional 252,285 individuals were left injured. These alarming statistics underscore the persistent severity of traffic-related incidents, prompting lawmakers to advocate for the implementation of hands-free legislation that aims to curb distracted driving and potentially reduce these numbers.
Brianna Jackson, a junior public relations major at FAMU, said she supports the idea but sees a potential issue in how it’s enforced.
“I think it’s smart to make people keep their phones down while driving, especially near schools, but I do wonder how police will handle it without crossing privacy lines,” Jackson said.
If signed into law, the bill would take effect July 1.