Demetrius Branca, a determined father from Florida, has arrived in the Tampa Bay area with a mission: to share the heart-wrenching story of his son’s tragic death and advocate for stronger distracted driving laws. His son, Anthony, was just 19 when he was killed by a distracted driver in Tallahassee back in 2014. Branca’s efforts to push for ‘hands-free’ laws in Florida have driven him to visit all 67 counties, including Pasco, Hillsborough, and Pinellas, to engage with local officials and stress the urgency of these laws.
In a bid to address the alarming rate of traffic fatalities, Demetrius Branca is on a mission to make Florida’s roads safer by promoting stringent distracted driving regulations. He emphasizes the critical nature of this issue, noting that traffic deaths remain the leading cause of fatalities among Americans under 25. Branca’s advocacy is also deeply personal, stemming from the devastating loss of his son, Anthony, who fell victim to a distracted driver over a decade ago.
Branca is not a newcomer to legislative advocacy. He previously contributed to the passage of Florida’s texting and driving law, which currently prohibits the manual input of text on a phone while driving. However, he argues that this law does not adequately address other forms of phone use that can lead to dangerous distractions. As a result, Branca is pushing for comprehensive ‘hands-free’ legislation that would limit any cell phone usage while driving unless devices are entirely hands-free.
Through his statewide tour, Branca aims to discuss with elected officials the necessity of strengthening these laws to combat the prevalence of distracted driving. He plans to visit the Pasco County Commission and reach out to officials in Hillsborough and Pinellas counties. By directly engaging with lawmakers, Branca seeks to highlight the life-threatening risks of distracted driving and the importance of legislative action to prevent more tragedies.
Branca comments, “We have to be aware of what is the primary form of death among our kids, and right now that’s traffic fatalities,” speaking candidly about the widespread impact of this issue. He underlines that current laws fall short in covering many distractions posed by mobile devices, urging that stronger laws could help save lives. The push for change is underscored by his desire to inform and mobilize communities and lawmakers across the state.
Demetrius Branca’s journey across Florida underscores a powerful message: the urgent need for comprehensive distracted driving laws. As he connects with communities and officials, his unwavering commitment to this cause demonstrates a father’s resolve to turn personal tragedy into a catalyst for change, hoping to protect other families from similar heartache.
Source: Fox13news
