Earlier this month, we rallied with many of you on the steps of the State House to send our legislators a message: Massachusetts can't wait another year for safe streets.
Distracted driving is a dangerous epidemic. The outdated texting-while-driving ban is ineffective and difficult to enforce. Massachusetts and Maine are the only New England states to not have hands-free legislation in effect.
We need you to voice your support for a hands-free bill and help make Massachusetts streets safer for all -- act now!
It's easy -- call or email your State Representative today. See our phone script and email template below and thank you for taking action!
Why is This Bill Important?
- The texting ban under current law is outdated and ineffective, and it's unsafe and inefficient for police officers to enforce.
- Dialing a number or using GPS on a hand-held device takes a driver’s eyes and attention away from the road for just as much time as sending or reading a text. Both hands should be on the wheel, and the mind on the road. Everything else can wait.
- A 2017 AAA survey showed that 74% of AAA Massachusetts members support a hand-held ban, and we are surrounded by states that have already passed a similar hands-free bill, including New Hampshire and Rhode Island.
What's Next?
Because the Senate has already passed a hands-free bill this session, if the House passes a bill, the two versions would need to be reconciled into a final bill and then sent to the Governor for his signature! Fortunately, the Governor has already announced his support for hands-free legislation.
Sample phone script
“Hello, my name is _____ and I’m calling from _____ [city/town] and wanted to let Representative _____ [if you don't know your Rep, click here] know that I support a hands-free bill in Massachusetts.
[Insert brief personal story or opinion here.]
I strongly encourage Representative ______ to contact Chairman Sanchez and Speaker DeLeo to voice his/her support for this bill including the proposed racial profiling amendment, too. The bill number is S.2103 or H.3660.
It’s time that Massachusetts has more enforceable, more updated laws around distracted driving.
Thank you for your time.”
[Please be prepared to give your street address and zip code.]
Sample email template
To: Your State Representative (if you don't know who they are, click here)
CC: [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]
Recommended email subject: Please Support Hands-Free Legislation (S.2103 or H.3660)
Sample email text:
Dear Representative ____,
I am writing to ask your support for hands-free legislation: either the Senate-passed An Act to Prevent Driver Distraction and Motor Vehicle Fatalities (S.2103) or An Act requiring the hands-free use of mobile telephones while driving (H.3660) including the proposed racial profiling amendment.
Serious injury and deaths from traffic crashes due to distracted driving continue with troubling frequency on our streets. These bills aim to curb distracted driving and create safer streets for all users, including bicyclists, pedestrians, and passengers of motor vehicles.
[Tell your own story here. Why is this bill important to you?]
Thanks again for your consideration, and I hope to count on your support of hands-free legislation this session.
[full name
street address
city/town, state, zip
phone:
email: ]