Florida father visiting Bay Area as part of push for stricter distracted driving laws
TAMPA, Fla. - A Florida father is in the Tampa Bay area to share the tragic story of his son's death as part of a push for stricter distracted driving laws.
Demetrius Branca's 19-year-old son, Anthony, died in 2014 after being hit by a distracted driver in Tallahassee.
"Obviously, that day changed my life forever and set me on the path that I am on now," Branca said when reflecting on his son’s death.
Branca is now in the process of visiting all 67 counties statewide to urge officials to pass ‘hands-free’ laws banning cell phone use while driving.
Demetrius Branca's 19-year-old son, Anthony, died in 2014 after being hit by a distracted driver in Tallahassee. (Images courtesy of Demetrius Branca.)
"In my mind, hands-free is the compromise," Branca said. "We need to get peoples’ phones out of their hands, and as much as possible, keep their eyes on the road, their hands on the wheel, and their mind on what they're doing."
Branca said his goal is to speak directly with as many elected officials as he can, adding that he feels the state's current texting and driving law – which he helped to pass – is not strong enough.
"[The current law] means that you can’t use your phone to input text, but it doesn’t say anything about all the other things we use our phones for," he said.
Branca told FOX 13 he's speaking with the Pasco County Commission on Tuesday, and will visit Hillsborough and Pinellas counties later this week.
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