HARRISBURG - It's another rite of spring along with high school proms.
State lawmakers are making a renewed push to make highways safer by putting new restrictions on drivers and operators of vehicles ranging from cars to motorcycles and bicycles. Some restrictions are aimed at activities that distract drivers while they are behind the wheel while others target teen drivers.
But lawmakers are being pulled in several directions on the driver safety issue and it is uncertain whether any one bill will make it to the governor's desk before they recess for the summer.
The two chambers tussled over similar issues last year under a state government split between the two parties. Now it's the turn of a Republican-controlled statehouse to broker an agreement.
The House has moved farthest on the issue this year, approving three bills to create a distracted driving penalty, address teen driver safety and set new rules for interactions between motorists and bicyclists.
The measure by Rep. Chris Ross, R-158, Unionville, would levy a $50 fine for distracted driving due to using an electronic device, eating, drinking, looking at printed material or personal grooming. This fine would be tacked on to any fines levied for the existing violation of careless driving.
"House Bill 896 permits you to eat and use devices such as ipods and cell phones as long as you can do it responsibly," said Rep. Richard Geist, R-79, Altoona, chairman of the House Transportation Committee.
The measure by Rep. Kathy Watson, R-144, Warminster, would limit teen drivers with junior licenses, a group ranging in age from 16 to 18, to having just one passenger under age 18 with an exception for family members.
The bill also would increase the amount of time a junior driver would need to practice before applying for a driver's license from 50 to 65 hours. Of those practice hours, 10 hours would have to be at night and five hours during inclement weather.
In addition, the bill would make it a primary offense for a driver when the driver or a passenger under age 18 isn't wearing a seat belt. This means a police officer could pull the vehicle over if he suspects a child isn't buckled up.
The third measure by Rep. Ron Miller, R-93, York, would require motorists to keep their vehicles at least four feet away while passing a bicyclist, prohibit motorists from making sudden right turns in front of a bicyclist and permit a vehicle to pass a bicyclist in a no-passing zone.
The Senate Transportation Committee has approved a bill to prohibit texting and use of hand-held cell phones while driving for all motorists. This would be considered a secondary offense, meaning the driver would have to be pulled over first for a primary offense. The House is working on its own bill dealing with bans on cell phone use and texting while driving.