AUSTIN, Texas — AAA Texas and families impacted by districted driving held a rally at the Texas state Capitol on Wednesday calling on lawmakers to pass a hands-free bill.
Senate Bill 47, the “Allie’s Way Act” by State Sen. Judith Zaffirini (D-Laredo), is named after 2-year-old Allie White. She was hit and killed by a distracted driver in Round Rock in 2019.
Allie’s mom, Jamie White, spoke at the rally. She and others say the Texas law banning texting and driving that was passed in 2017 has some holes in it.
While it bans drivers from using devices to “read, write or send electronic messages” unless they are stopped, it doesn’t prohibit holding your phone to your ear or making a call.
White said it is important to get this bill passed to stop what she believes are senseless, preventable tragedies.
“This bill would save lives,” said White. “It would produce the consequences needed because Allie’s killer got nothing – walked away, killed my child and walked away scot-free. Something needs to happen. We need to make a positive impact and prevent another family from having to suffer the same trauma.”
“My husband was actually trying to pull her out of the way,” White added. “This driver was so distracted that the kids in the back of her car were even screaming at her to get off the phone before she ran over my daughter in front of my husband.”
A similar bill was filed last legislative session but was not heard in committee. Advocates hope this session will be different.
The bill is now in the hands of the Senate State Affairs Committee. So far, a hearing has not yet been scheduled.