Last ditch attempt underway to ban cellular phone use even as using in Virginia

There is a closing ditch effort underway to try to ban cellular smartphone use at the same time as driving in Virginia. A bill to achieve this didn’t pass the General Assembly — however, protection advocates are inquiring for help from the governor.

On Wednesday night, FOX 5’s Lauren DeMarco spoke with some of the advocates pushing for exchange. Their stories make you stop and suppose. Mindy Schulz remains recuperating from excessive injuries she received back in 2016 while a driving force hit her and her toddler son Tristan at the same time as she changed into pushing their stroller via a Lansdowne intersection.

“My 5-month-old, 18-pound toddler boy turned into a run-over with the aid of an SUV,” said Schulz. “There’s no reason he shouldn’t have seen us.”

John Miller turned into sentenced to 12 months in prison and served approximately six. Schulz volunteers with the institution DRIVE SMART Virginia, which sent a letter to Gov. Ralph Northam on Monday. Right now, there’s a bill on his table that would ban handheld devices in creation zones. DRIVE SMART Virginia is calling he, not most effective signal it but adds an amendment banning handheld gadgets on all Virginia roads.

Delegate Marcus Simon changed into one of the lawmakers to vote no to the invoice. However, he says if the governor adds a change with an appropriate language, he might aid it. “We’ve got to do something. People are at a loss of life each day in Virginia because someone is distracted,” stated Christina Dempsey.

She misplaced her sister, niece, and her sister’s boyfriend’s daughter in what she believes turned into a distracting using crash. She says it’s heartbreaking that it’s taken this long to get legislation exceeded.

“It’s no longer going to prevent it completely, but it’ll assist preserve humans accountable for their movements,” stated Dempsey.

Like Dempsey, Schulz would love to peer that these tragedies inspire change. “There’s no longer an afternoon is going with the aid of that my coronary heart doesn’t ache, that I don’t feel his absence,” said Schulz. “Gov. Northam, at this factor, you are the handiest man or woman who can and who has the duty to do so. Make the amendment and store Virginia roadways. Please forestall distracted driving.”