House Democrats Fight to Make PA Roads Safer
During one 20-day span in 2009, four Pottstown and Pottsgrove high school students lost their lives in car crashes. The tragic accidents that took their lives might well have been prevented had the vehicles been manned in any of the states neighboring Pennsylvania; the inexperienced drivers packed their cars with friends and used distractive devices. Both are legal in Pennsylvania.
It’s sad stories like this that are keeping Democrats fighting to make our roadways safer.
Last week, that meant rejecting a watered-down driving safety bill that would have done little to protect Pennsylvania drivers.
"At some point in time, somebody has to do what they think is right. Lives are at stake here," said Rep. Joe Markosek, chairman of the House Transportation Committee, about why the House voted against the weakened bill.
Markosek introduced a bill last year that would make it illegal for holders of junior driver’s licenses to talk on a cell phone or send text messages while behind the wheel. It would also limit the number of passengers teen drivers can transport. The bill passed the House with strong bipartisan support, but the Republican-controlled Senate weakened the legislation. Under the Senate bill, police officers could not cite teens for texting or talking on a cell phone while driving until after an accident or some other incident has occurred.
The Mercury agrees with Markosek and House Democrats for rejecting the weaker bill. Protecting our children, they said, "cannot be allowed to languish”:
"Ending another legislative session without teen driving reform is a travesty. But a greater travesty would be giving up the fight."
"Parents, educators, teens, police, prosecutors and every citizen who values life and safety of children must demand that the state Senate work to adopt HB 67."
We couldn’t have said it better ourselves.
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