Florida Road Safety Week used to highlight traffic safety bills

State lawmakers and law enforcement officials, in honor of Florida Road Safety Week, recently updated the state on several traffic safety bills currently before or headed to the state legislature. Several of the bills have bipartisan support. One of the bills, the Yellow Dot program, could be of particular assistance to car accident victims, and all are aimed at increasing safety on the roads.

The Yellow Dot program is a safety program that would allow motorists to affix a yellow sticker on the back of their car, which would let responders know that their medical information can be found in their glove box.

Another proposal, related to the use of booster seats, is also headed to the floor. That bill adds booster seat requirements for four and five-year-old children. Another measure being considered by the state’s legislative bodies is a bill targeted at hit-and-run drivers.

Two other bills of particular interest to people who have been helpless victims of distracted drivers aim to strengthen the enforcement of, and penalties for, texting while driving.

The texting and driving ban currently in place in Florida only allows officers to ticket a driver for texting while driving if that driver was pulled over for a separate offense first. The new bill, which has not been heard, aims to make that provision stronger by making texting while driving a primary offense. Another measure seeks to stiffen the penalties for those drivers who cause the death of another person by texting and driving.

These bills are not yet laws; however there are other laws in place which provide rights to car accident victims and their families. It may be a good idea for car accident victims to speak with an attorney in order to understand their rights and identify what options they may have to hold a negligent party accountable.

Source: WFSU, "Traffic Safety Bills, Moving And Stalled, Highlighted During Fla. Road Safety Week," Sascha Cordner, April 9, 2014