Dupage Policy Journal

State Rep. Amy Grant (R-Wheaton) is "proud" of her behind-the-scenes work in getting House Bill 2386 passed into law.

“Texting while (driving) is dangerous,” Grant said in a press release. “It is estimated that sending or reading a text takes a driver’s eyes off the road for 5 seconds. When driving the speed limit, that’s like driving the length of an entire football field with your eyes closed.”

Grant stated in the release that she was "proud" to co-sponsor the bill. Gov. J.B. Pritzker approved the bill July 19 with the bill set to go into effect July 1, 2020.

With distracting driving, mainly in the form of texting while driving, estimated to cause 1.6 million crashes per year and nearly 400,000 injuries, HB 2386 increases the fine for such offenses tenfold to $1,000 and results in the perpetrator's driver’s license being suspended for 12 months.

Grant is hoping to see parents lead by example.

“I encourage parents to lead by example by never driving distracted, and I would also encourage them to talk with their young drivers about the dangers associated with distracted driving,” she said in the release. “I was proud to co-sponsor this important public safety bill. Since the statistics are not causing all drivers to put their phones away, I am hoping that steep fines and the suspension of their driver’s license will make drivers think twice about using their cellphone while driving.”

Those exempt from the new law are law enforcement officers or operators of emergency vehicles performing official duties. In addition, drivers using an electronic device to report an emergency are exempt.

Still in her first term, Grant was recently named to the Property Tax Relief Task Force to study the root causes of the state’s soaring property tax rates. Her 42nd District includes all or parts of Carol Stream, Lisle, Warrenville, Wheaton, Winfield, West Chicago and Naperville.