Kissimmee police are reminding drivers that the texting while driving law goes into effect on October 1, 2013.
According to the National Safety Council’s website, “So far this year in the United States there have been an estimated 771,383 crashes involving drivers using cell phones and texting. Every 30 seconds a crash occurs.”
Texting takes your eyes off of the road for approximately 5 seconds. At a speed of 55 miles an hour a vehicle can travel the length of a football field in 5 seconds.
Florida’s texting while driving law goes into effect on October 1, 2013.
The law makes it a secondary offense to text and drive, meaning the driver must first commit another driving violation in order to be pulled over.
The fine for the first offense is $30.
In order to educate the community, the Kissimmee Police Department has placed a message board sign on Thacker Avenue, near Osceola High School, reminding motorists of the law.
The sign encourages drivers to “Drive Now and Text Later”.
Additionally, the Department has placed a banner on school grounds urging teens not to text and drive.