Skip to Content
Streetsblog USA home
Streetsblog USA home
Log In

No one's going to accuse Florida of being a safe streets pioneer. But yesterday, the Sunshine State took a "baby step" forward, as one advocate put it, becoming 42nd state to pass a law making texting and driving illegal.

false

Kathryn Moore at Transit Miami says the law still leaves a lot to be desired, but it's better than nothing:

In Florida, texting while driving is only a secondary offense, meaning law enforcement can’t pull you over solely for the action. The ticket itself is only $30, but multiple offenses become moving violations and add points to your license/ raise your insurance premiums.

In Florida, it remains just fine to text or drop an email when you’re at a red light – which sounds okay until you realize that motorists are obliged to check for people still in crosswalks as well as green lights. It’s also fine to take calls, change your Pandora station or use Google Maps.

U.S. DOT says in 2011, 3331 people were killed in collisions involving a distracted driver.

Elsewhere on the Network today: The Dallas Morning News Transportation Blog carries the results of a poll finding that Texans are willing to pay more for better road maintenance. The Bike League reports that the roughly 35,000 cyclists participating in this year's National Bike Challenge logged a combined total of about 18 million miles. And Global Site Plans explains how Bogota, Colombia, established itself as a global leader on sustainable and equitable transportation.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog USA

Talking Headways Podcast: Localities Subsidize the State DOT

Adie Tomer of Brookings on how to improve regional coordination around infrastructure.

July 10, 2025

Five of the Ugliest Transportation Policies In the ‘Big, Beautiful’ Bill

Here's a rundown of some of the transportation provisions in the Republicans' reconciliation package, and what they might mean for your community.

July 10, 2025

Viva La Thursday’s Headlines

Why is French transit ridership up 10 percent since before the pandemic, while American transit ridership is down 23 percent?

July 10, 2025

Wednesday’s Headlines Are Bigger and Beautiful-er

There's a lot of bad news in the Big Beautiful Bill — but it also may have helped kill a major highway expansion in Oregon.

July 9, 2025

Removing ‘Rainbow Crosswalks’ Won’t Make America’s Arterials Safer

Secretary Duffy wants to tackle dangerous arterials. So why is he coming after rainbow crosswalks most often seen on narrow city roads?

July 9, 2025

The ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ Is About Our Transportation Future, Too

Transportation didn't get a lot of mention in the public discussion of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. But it's everywhere.

July 8, 2025
See all posts