Can you take action today against distracted driving?
April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month. Cyclists don't need a special month to be aware of distracted driving. We encounter it far too often. It threatens our lives. It has to stop. The Michigan House passed a bipartisan set of bills earlier this year, HB 4277-4279, which make it illegal to use a phone in your hand while driving. They close the loophole which prohibits texting but permits Facebook, Netflix, email and selfies. The bills were sent to the Senate Judiciary Committee, and now we need that committee to make them a priority. Can you take action today – by noon if possible – and ask your senator to support a hearing and committee vote on the hands-free bills? 1) Write to your senator. 2) If your senator is on the Judiciary Committee (see districts map below), call their office and say: "I ride bikes and I need you to help stop distracted driving this April, Distracted Driving Awareness Month. Please support a hearing and committee vote on HB 4277-4279 this month."
Office phone numbers: Roger Victory, Chair (R) - Ottawa, 517-373-6920
Curtis VanderWall (R) - Benzie, Crawford, Kalkaska, Lake, Leelanau, Manistee, Mason, Missaukee, Ogemaw, Osceola, Roscommon and Wexford, 517-373-1725
Tom Barrett (R) - Clinton, Eaton and Shiawassee and parts of northeastern Ingham County, 517-373-3447
Ruth Johnson (R) - parts of Genesee and Oakland, 517-373-1636
Jim Runestad (R) - western Oakland County, 517-373-1758
Douglas Wozniak (R) - parts of Macomb County, 517-373-7670
Stephanie Chang (D) - parts of Wayne County, 517-373-7346
Jeff Irwin (D) - parts of Washtenaw County, 517-373-2406 (Not sure who your senator is? You can look it up by address.) Thank you for taking action to make Michigan roads safer for everyone who cycles!
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