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CARELESS DRIVING LAW ON TABLE
FOR APRIL 26….ROAD WATCH…
(Shapiro’s amendment narrowly defeated, but Ross amendment re: distracted driving passes by 179-16 – DON’T MUNCH ON THAT BIG MAC, BUSTER, WHILE DRIVING.)
Although state Rep. Josh Shapiro’s (D-Montgomery) amendment that would ban hand-held cell phone use while driving was narrowly defeated last week, 100-95, along party lines, another amendment by Rep. Chris Ross, R-Chester County, to House Bill 67, was later passed, 179-16, which would address comprehensive distracted driving scenarios.
Ross inserted his amendment into the underlying bill designed to improve teen safety on the road. It would fine “distracted” drivers, if after being caught violating the careless driving statute, police find they were on the phone, texting, drinking, eating or reading.
“For the benefit of the police who are looking at drivers going by on the road, the carelessness is a much better entry point to this discussion,” Ross told the Associated Press.
Shapiro’s amendment would have allowed police to pull over and cite anyone they observed using a hand-held phone or tapping out a text message.
Republican opponents expressed doubt that police would be able to enforce such a law and argued for addressing the broader issue of distracted driving.
Rep. Ron Miller, R-York, questioned “whether the hand-held (cell phone) is the real culprit here.”
The bill would limit how many under-18 passengers a junior driver can transport, increase training for teen drivers and make several changes to improve safety.
If the teen driving bill passes the House, it will require passage by the Senate before it goes to the governor for his consideration.
Shapiro isn’t discouraged by the narrow defeat of his amendment, he told the Daily Times last week. “We made great progress and this fight is not over,” he said. He said he was confident that when the issue comes up again, “we will have the votes to pass it and make our roads safer.”
Some of the flaws in his amendment cited by fellow legislators was that it made hand-held cell phone use while driving a primary instead of a secondary offense and that hands-free phones still might have to require dialing.
Some also cited the need for a public hearing to iron out all the details which may not have been adequately addressed.
Does this new Ross amendment mean you better stop drinking out of your water bottle even when driving in extremely hot weather or that taking a bite out of that donut and sip of coffee puts you on the radar? Sounds like over-regulation to me.
It takes a lot more concentration to listen to a phone conversation while driving with only one hand on the wheel than just taking a quick bite out of your Big Mac, if you ask me. There’s got to be a better solution. And Harrisburg doesn’t seem to have it right now.
U.S. Route 202
Nighttime treavel restrictions will be in place at two locations on Route 202 in East Whiteland, Chester County, this week for continuing construction activities to replace six bridges over the expressway in Chester County.
Route 202 will be reduced to one lane in each direction Monday-Friday from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. at the southern end of the Route 29 Interchange for the installation of protective shielding on the Swedesford Road north overpass.
Occasional traffic stoppages of up to 15 minutes also may occur on Route 202 during the late night and early morning hours.
Also brief traffic stoppages will occur at the Swedesford Road south overpass between the Route 30 and Route 401 interchanges Monday-Friday 10 p.m.-5 a.m.
Ben Franklin Bridge
The Ben Franklin Bridge will be closed to all vehicular traffic 8-10 a.m. today for the March for Babies Camden Waterfront Walk to raise funds for the March of Dimes’ programs and research.
Some local roadways adjacent to the bridge will also be closed.
South Avenue Closing
GLENOLDEN – South Avenue will be closed between South Bonsall and Hillcrest avenues from 9 a.m. Monday to 4 p.m. May 1 for the replacement of an old CSX Railroad crossing, PennDOT said.
During construction, South Avenue through traffic will be detoured over MacDade Boulevard, Oak Lane and Chester Pike. Local access will be maintained up to the construction zone.
Motorists are urged to allow extra time when traveling through the area.
Traffic Delays
I-476 North/South – Ridley Township, Nether Providence and Marple, guiderail repairs, left lane closed between Marple Road and I-95, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesday-Wednesday.
U.S. Route 1 South – Chadds Ford, raised pavement marker installation, left lane closed between U.S. Route 322 and Chester County line 9 p.m.-6 a.m. Tuesday-Thursday.
Bethel – Foulk Road, trench restoration, closed/detoured between Garnet Mine and Bethel roads 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays through May 8. Work begins Tuesday.
Radnor – King of Prussia Road, bridge construction, closed/detoured between Gulph Creek Road and Biddulph Road, 24-hour detour through May 22. Work began April 20.
Radnor – Lancaster Avenue (Route 30), traffic signal construction, right lane closures between Old Eagle School Road and Lowerys Lane, 7 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday.
Media Line Road – Marple and Newtown, Aqua utility installation between Route 3 and Gradyville Road 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays through May 1. Work began March 30.
Marple – Media Line Road, Aqua installation between Lovell Avenue and Highland Road 9 a.m.-3 p.m weekdays through May 29. Work began Jan. 12.
Springfield – Thomson Avenue, Aqua trench restoration between Baltimore Pike and Sproul Road 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays through May 8. Work began March 30.
Chester — Flower Street, ramp construction with a new traffic pattern at Fourth and Second streets, 24-hour restriction through 2011. Work began Jan. 12.
Also, Norris Street, ramp construction with lane restrictions at Front Street and Delaware Avenue, 24-hour restriction through 2011. Work began Jan. 12.
Ridley Park – Ridley Avenue, Aqua utility installation, closed/detoured between Constitution Avenue and Cresswell/Tasker streets 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays and through Aug. 28. Work began March 9.
“Road Watch” appears Sundays. Only messages and mail with phone numbers will be considered. E-mail: jroman@delcotimes.com.
(Shapiro’s amendment narrowly defeated, but Ross amendment re: distracted driving passes by 179-16 – DON’T MUNCH ON THAT BIG MAC, BUSTER, WHILE DRIVING.)
Although state Rep. Josh Shapiro’s (D-Montgomery) amendment that would ban hand-held cell phone use while driving was narrowly defeated last week, 100-95, along party lines, another amendment by Rep. Chris Ross, R-Chester County, to House Bill 67, was later passed, 179-16, which would address comprehensive distracted driving scenarios.
Ross inserted his amendment into the underlying bill designed to improve teen safety on the road. It would fine “distracted” drivers, if after being caught violating the careless driving statute, police find they were on the phone, texting, drinking, eating or reading.
“For the benefit of the police who are looking at drivers going by on the road, the carelessness is a much better entry point to this discussion,” Ross told the Associated Press.
Shapiro’s amendment would have allowed police to pull over and cite anyone they observed using a hand-held phone or tapping out a text message.
Republican opponents expressed doubt that police would be able to enforce such a law and argued for addressing the broader issue of distracted driving.
Rep. Ron Miller, R-York, questioned “whether the hand-held (cell phone) is the real culprit here.”
The bill would limit how many under-18 passengers a junior driver can transport, increase training for teen drivers and make several changes to improve safety.
If the teen driving bill passes the House, it will require passage by the Senate before it goes to the governor for his consideration.
Shapiro isn’t discouraged by the narrow defeat of his amendment, he told the Daily Times last week. “We made great progress and this fight is not over,” he said. He said he was confident that when the issue comes up again, “we will have the votes to pass it and make our roads safer.”
Some of the flaws in his amendment cited by fellow legislators was that it made hand-held cell phone use while driving a primary instead of a secondary offense and that hands-free phones still might have to require dialing.
Some also cited the need for a public hearing to iron out all the details which may not have been adequately addressed.
Does this new Ross amendment mean you better stop drinking out of your water bottle even when driving in extremely hot weather or that taking a bite out of that donut and sip of coffee puts you on the radar? Sounds like over-regulation to me.
It takes a lot more concentration to listen to a phone conversation while driving with only one hand on the wheel than just taking a quick bite out of your Big Mac, if you ask me. There’s got to be a better solution. And Harrisburg doesn’t seem to have it right now.
U.S. Route 202
Nighttime treavel restrictions will be in place at two locations on Route 202 in East Whiteland, Chester County, this week for continuing construction activities to replace six bridges over the expressway in Chester County.
Route 202 will be reduced to one lane in each direction Monday-Friday from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. at the southern end of the Route 29 Interchange for the installation of protective shielding on the Swedesford Road north overpass.
Occasional traffic stoppages of up to 15 minutes also may occur on Route 202 during the late night and early morning hours.
Also brief traffic stoppages will occur at the Swedesford Road south overpass between the Route 30 and Route 401 interchanges Monday-Friday 10 p.m.-5 a.m.
Ben Franklin Bridge
The Ben Franklin Bridge will be closed to all vehicular traffic 8-10 a.m. today for the March for Babies Camden Waterfront Walk to raise funds for the March of Dimes’ programs and research.
Some local roadways adjacent to the bridge will also be closed.
South Avenue Closing
GLENOLDEN – South Avenue will be closed between South Bonsall and Hillcrest avenues from 9 a.m. Monday to 4 p.m. May 1 for the replacement of an old CSX Railroad crossing, PennDOT said.
During construction, South Avenue through traffic will be detoured over MacDade Boulevard, Oak Lane and Chester Pike. Local access will be maintained up to the construction zone.
Motorists are urged to allow extra time when traveling through the area.
Traffic Delays
I-476 North/South – Ridley Township, Nether Providence and Marple, guiderail repairs, left lane closed between Marple Road and I-95, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesday-Wednesday.
U.S. Route 1 South – Chadds Ford, raised pavement marker installation, left lane closed between U.S. Route 322 and Chester County line 9 p.m.-6 a.m. Tuesday-Thursday.
Bethel – Foulk Road, trench restoration, closed/detoured between Garnet Mine and Bethel roads 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays through May 8. Work begins Tuesday.
Radnor – King of Prussia Road, bridge construction, closed/detoured between Gulph Creek Road and Biddulph Road, 24-hour detour through May 22. Work began April 20.
Radnor – Lancaster Avenue (Route 30), traffic signal construction, right lane closures between Old Eagle School Road and Lowerys Lane, 7 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday.
Media Line Road – Marple and Newtown, Aqua utility installation between Route 3 and Gradyville Road 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays through May 1. Work began March 30.
Marple – Media Line Road, Aqua installation between Lovell Avenue and Highland Road 9 a.m.-3 p.m weekdays through May 29. Work began Jan. 12.
Springfield – Thomson Avenue, Aqua trench restoration between Baltimore Pike and Sproul Road 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays through May 8. Work began March 30.
Chester — Flower Street, ramp construction with a new traffic pattern at Fourth and Second streets, 24-hour restriction through 2011. Work began Jan. 12.
Also, Norris Street, ramp construction with lane restrictions at Front Street and Delaware Avenue, 24-hour restriction through 2011. Work began Jan. 12.
Ridley Park – Ridley Avenue, Aqua utility installation, closed/detoured between Constitution Avenue and Cresswell/Tasker streets 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays and through Aug. 28. Work began March 9.
“Road Watch” appears Sundays. Only messages and mail with phone numbers will be considered. E-mail: jroman@delcotimes.com.
posted by John Roman at
10:09 AM
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