I am so sorry for your loss. I just want to say, I am 53 years old, and I know that technology is changing everyday, but I am sick to death of people having phones attached to their heads. No communication with people anymore, just texting. Not only do they need to abolish texting and driving in Florida, it should be nationwide. So many innocent people are being killed everyday, because texting someone and taking your eyes off the road, is more important. What kind of world is this becoming? As I am writing this, I am looking at your son, and it just saddens me, such a nice looking young man, who had a future ahead of him, and his life was snapped away because of texting, this has got to STOP! NO MORE TEXTING AND DRIVING NATIONWIDE is what I say. Again, I am so sorry for your loss.
After seeing the Change.org petition, I wanted to know more about Anthony and the life he had led leading up to the day he was no longer with us. What a child, boy, and man he was. This world is definitely worse off for his absence. The more I read, the more his story touched me. Nothing is so important that it’s worth risking the life of yourself or someone else. Where many would wallow in sadness (completely understandable) you’ve turned it around and tried to get as much of a positive outcome as possible. For that, you should be commended. I have seven children myself and I can’t imagine what losing one would do to our family. Know that Anthony (Bob) Branca is in my thoughts.
I'm signing because like Anthony and his family, we lost our 22 year old son in October 2008 to a distracted driver, although the teenage driver admitted to seeing him she still proceeded through the light and to this day we will never know the full details of her "distraction" because there was no law then in place to disclose this information. As parents who lost their child we agree completely a law should have been passed long ago on this matter, how many children need to be lost before someone recognizes this as a serious problem? The roads in Florida are already very dangerous and adding a distraction to it while driving is a recipe for loss of life. I'm pretty sure Anthony's parents probably had talks with their son regarding this matter before their loss as we did as responsible parents did with our son. Keep in mind it is not just other young drivers who are distracted by texting, talking on their phone or other forms of distractions it includes adults that should certainly know better but still engage in such conduct. Please pass the law making it a crime for such actions so no more families have to lose a loved one at the hands of a distracted driver on the Florida roads (also this should be country wide in all 50 states by now)
I live in Florida. Every day I see people with their phones in their hands too busy texting and not paying attention. They are a danger on the roads. They don't seem to think that they will hurt anyone. My children's lives are more important than that text!!
Florida is definitely the scariest state to drive in. I've driven all over the state on my Harley. People tailgate, dial, talk, text and read the paper, all that at 60-80 mph. Many of them at only 15-20 feet behind me. If I had to brake suddenly I wouldn't have a chance. My chances of surviving would be close too zero.