How Does Florida Law Address Texting and Driving Accidents?

With everyone constantly on their phones, it’s no surprise that this can happen behind the wheel. It can be hard to resist peeking at a text while driving. However, the dangers of texting and driving can’t be overstated. Florida, like other states, has implemented laws to try and fight against this growing issue. It’s important to try and put a stop to this risky behavior and keep other drivers and pedestrians on the road safe. These laws take time to address these issues to ensure that accidents slow down and everyone can drive on the road with peace of mind.

Laws Banning Texting While Driving

Florida Statute § 316.305, also known as the Florida Ban on Texting While Driving Law prohibits all drivers from manually typing or entering anything while behind the wheel. That can include just simply liking a message on your phone while you’re on the road. This law applies to doing anything on your phone while driving. If you’re checking you’re email, then that is putting others at risk and calls for receiving a ticket. The goal is to minimize distractions and enhance safety on the roads.

Primary Offenses 

Texting while driving is considered a primary offense in Florida, meaning law enforcement officers can pull over drivers solely for texting behind the wheel, even if no other traffic violation has occurred. Additionally, drivers can be cited for texting while driving in Florida even if they are stopped at a red light or in traffic. The penalties for texting and driving in Florida can vary depending on the circumstances. For a first offense, drivers face a noncriminal traffic infraction, with fines ranging from $30 to $100. Subsequent offenses within five years may result in increased fines and points on the driver’s license. If your distracted driving leads to a car accident, then you can get in serious trouble and be responsible for the damages.

Certain Exceptions

There are exceptions for certain situations that the Florida law has allowed. It’s been permitted for people to use hands-free devices in emergency situations if they have no other options. However, these exceptions aren’t an excuse for distracted driving. It’s still the driver’s responsibility to pay attention to the road and keep off their phone while driving. Especially if they are on a highway or in an area where there’s lots of traffic. It’s important for the state of Florida to uphold these laws to keep everyone safe. This requires law enforcement to pay attention to how people are driving to see if they are distracted. The more this is done, the safer the roads can be.

Legal Consequences 

Distracted driving is against the law in Florida. That means there are legal consequences that must be taken if that is the case in a car accident. These accidents can cause physical and emotional damage to victims and need to be dealt with. There are even times when these accidents leave fatalities and severe injuries. If you feel your accident was caused by someone else’s lack of care and they were on their phones, it’s in your best interest to reach out to a legal team in your area so they can help get you the compensation you need.

Florida has taken time to create strict laws to make the roads safer. Texting while driving can lead to loads of damage to everyone involved. It’s important to pay attention to the road and the other drivers around you. Understanding what’s going on keeps you safe and gives you the time to react in case something happens. If you’re too busy on your phone, you miss that window and might make an accident worse. These laws are meant to keep everyone safe and to ensure that no matter what, everyone can get home.