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A Split Second.

A Lifetime of Consequences.

Distracted Driving Kills.

by Michelle Avola-Brown, Executive Director,
Naples Pathways Coalition

t takes less than five seconds to read a text message. Where these laws have passed, crash reductions have followed and road
At 55 miles per hour, that is enough time to travel the fatalities have dropped significantly. Just as seatbelt laws and impaired driving
Ilength of a football field. laws shifted public norms over time, hands-free laws remove ambiguity with a
What if you glance down to read a text or check a simple requirement not to hold a device while driving.
notification and don’t realize the light has turned red? In Naples, where more residents are choosing to walk and bike for health,
Or if you don’t see a parent pushing a stroller through for connection, for quality of life, distracted driving threatens that progress.
a crosswalk? This legislation protects the most vulnerable road users.
Or if you don’t notice when the driver ahead of you The person crossing the street does not know whether the approaching
had to abruptly stop to avoid a child in the roadway? driver is glancing at a screen. The cyclist in a bike lane cannot predict whether
Or if you don’t realize you’re drifting from your lane while reading a news the driver drifting toward them is checking a notification. We can and we
alert as a couple rides in a bike lane? must do better.
Those five seconds can end lives and lead to a lifetime of regret. We Will Be Back in 2027
April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month, and for Naples Pathways The statewide Hands-Free Florida Coalition, which Naples Pathways
Coalition, this issue is deeply personal. Our community has embraced walking, Coalition founded in 2022, continues to meet with elected officials across
biking, and outdoor living as part of what makes Naples special. But that the state. We are sharing data and educating everyone we reach. We are
freedom depends on something simple and powerful: drivers paying attention. strengthening partnerships with medical professionals, law enforcement
Every year in Florida, tens of thousands of crashes involve driver distraction. leaders, and community advocates.
Behind each statistic is a story, a family disrupted, a life altered or ended, a And in 2027, with new legislative leadership and new committee chairs,
moment that cannot be undone. we will return to Tallahassee to advance hands-free legislation once again.
Distracted driving is not a technology problem. It is a behavior problem. Because lives are worth the effort.
And behavior can change. Because prevention is always better than regret.
What Happened in Tallahassee in 2026? Because the cost of inaction is measured in hospital rooms, rehabilitation
During the 2026 Legislative Session, lawmakers debated legislation centers, and empty chairs at family tables.
designed to strengthen consequences when handheld phone use contributes to This Is Where You Come In
careless driving. Safer streets do not materialize on their own. They are built through
Modified from the original clear bill language by the Government advocacy, education, and sustained engagement.
Operations Subcommittee Chair, Rep. Linda Chaney, the proposal would have Your support allows Naples Pathways Coalition to:
only added enhanced penalties when a driver was cited for careless driving while • Meet with lawmakers year-round
holding a wireless device. • Commission and share safety research
Supporters included safety advocates, trauma professionals, and law • Organize statewide coalitions
enforcement leaders who see firsthand the human cost of distraction. However, • Educate the public about distracted driving risks
all speakers who testified in committee, including myself, asked for a clear ban • Be consistently present in Tallahassee
on hand-held device usage like the other 34 states with this life saving law. We invite you to stand with us. Make the personal commitment to put
As weak as the bill was, it did not pass. Recent polling data showed between your phone away or in a holder when driving. Talk with your family about
80 and 90% support for hands-free cell phone use legislation, with many voicing distraction. Speak up if you are a passenger of a distracted driver. Contact your
a desire for stronger language and higher penalties. Unfortunately, many of our elected officials. Sign the petition at HandsFreeFlorida.org. And consider
elected officials chose not to follow through on what Florida voters asked for. supporting Naples Pathways Coalition’s advocacy work so we can continue
For families who have experienced loss, for first responders who witness the pressing forward in 2027. Visit NaplesPathways.org/Get-Involved for more
aftermath of preventable crashes every day, and for those of us working toward information.
safer streets, that outcome was difficult. Yet progress is rarely linear. Cultural Five seconds is all it takes for tragedy.
change takes time. And we are not giving up. Five seconds is also all it takes to decide to put your phone down.
Why Hands-Free Laws Matter Let’s choose wisely, for ourselves, for our neighbors, and
There are 34 states and more than 30 countries with comprehensive hands- for the Naples we love.
free driving laws that send a clear, unmistakable message: if you are driving, your We invite you to get involved in our advocacy work by joining Naples
phone is not in your hand. Pathways Coalition or donating to support our mission to create a safe, walkable
and bikeable Collier County.
Visit https://naplespathways.org/get-involved

For more information, please visit www.NaplesPathways.org and www.HandsFreeFlorida.org
If you have any specific questions, email me at Michelle@NaplesPathways.org
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