Act now & help pass House Bill 1371 out of the House of Representatives!

This bi-partisan legislation would strengthen outdated distracted driving laws. Distracted driving endangers all road users, from drivers and passengers to pedestrians and bicyclists. And serious injuries due to distracted driving are on the rise.

This legislative update would broaden the definition of distracted driving to include holding a mobile device while operating a vehicle. Anyone holding a smartphone while driving would be guilty of a traffic infraction and must pay a fine.

In Olympia, timing is everything. This bill is expected to be voted on by the full house chamber this week, and members need to hear your voice of support. Help make roads and streets safer by taking action now!

Here’s what you can do to help:

  • Find your state representatives’ contact information here.
  • Call hotline (1-800-562-6000) or submit written comments by clicking the “comment on this bill” tab here. ???

Here’s some sample content for your emails/comments:

I am writing to express my strong support for HB 1371, and encourage you to vote yes when this bill comes on the house floor. 

This bi-partisan bill would modify outdated distracted driving laws that do not reflect how drivers interact with today’s sophisticated smartphones. Current laws don’t take into account modern smartphone uses such as scrolling through social media, watching videos, reading emails, or web browsing or searching. These activities endanger all road users – drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists alike. Washington must act now to address this dangerous driving behavior.

Distracted driving is on the rise. According to the Washington State Traffic Safety Commission, distracted driving related serious injury crashes increased from 247 to 496 between 2010 and 2015 – nearly doubling between this five-year period. And distracted driving accounted for nearly a third of overall traffic deaths in 2016.

Smartphone use while driving is a serious distraction for drivers. Washington must update its distracted driving laws to reflect the danger this activity poses to all road users.

For these reasons, I hope you will vote yes on HB 1371. 

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