Father honoring his son’s legacy

For Anthony Branca, Friday, Nov. 7, 2014, began as an strange day. He was a month shy of turning 20, a relative newcomer on the street to his grownup life.

There was no sense of foreboding, no harbinger to steer him to delay or postpone the afternoon commute to his class at Tallahassee State School.

Nothing to point that he would by no means attain his vacation spot.

“I bear in mind seeing my son early that morning,” mentioned Anthony’s father, Demetrius Branca. “He acquired as much as work a shift at a bagel store earlier than going to class throughout city afterward. He was using a motorbike, which he solely had for about three weeks.

“He slowed all the way down to make a left-hand flip, and the man behind him by no means slowed down. He by no means swerved and even touched the brakes — he hit Anthony and ran him over. The motive force coasted to a cease about 200 toes later when he popped his head up and realized he hit one thing.”

Demetrius Branca described his son as beloved by many, together with his associates, household, mother and father and youthful brother, Isaac. He famous that the funeral was crammed with those that referred to him as their finest good friend.

“Anthony was a pleasure. He was unbelievable, humorous, sensible, resilient and every little thing a mum or dad might hope for. He beloved our massive household Uno video games, whilst a young person. He was a favourite individual of mine, and I miss him drastically.”

Information reviews on the time of the incident famous that the motive force behind Anthony was 25 years previous and was working a Comcast van. He had been cited as soon as earlier than for working the van at a excessive charge of pace.

In response to a December article within the Tallahassee Democrat, Demetrius Branca mentioned the motive force was taking a look at his telephone on the time of the crash.

“The man who killed my son was an grownup distracted driver,” Demetrius Branca mentioned.

The penalty for his actions?

“He had solely $1,100 in fines and his driver’s license suspended for six months,” Demetrius Branca mentioned.

The sunshine sentence angered Demetrius Branca — sufficient to do one thing about it.

“Within the months after Anthony died, I went to the capital of Tallahassee. I started speaking to individuals and needed to make a change. I’m a dad on a mission to avoid wasting lives,” he mentioned. “Persons are dying in our streets, and collectively, we are able to save lives in your group and throughout the state. I’m a member of the Fingers-Free Coalition of Florida, which consists of bicycle, bike, pedestrian teams, insurance coverage companies and legislation enforcement.”

He’s additionally president of the Anthony Phoenix Branca Basis, a company he based to reform Florida’s driving legal guidelines and to avoid wasting lives claimed annually by distracted driving.

And he’s devoted to visiting all 67 counties in Florida to advocate for laws that bans hands-on cellphone use whereas driving.

Demetrius Branca and numerous others affected by comparable tragedies have supported his dedication to selling safer driving habits by means of the muse’s initiative, “Driving Change for Safer Florida Streets,” which goals to make it unlawful for drivers to make use of any handheld system whereas working a car.

The state’s statistics for distracted driving incidents aren’t good.

Extra than simply numbers

The Insurance coverage Institute for Freeway Security — which is, in accordance with its web site, “an impartial, nonprofit scientific and academic group devoted to decreasing deaths, accidents and property injury from motorcar crashes by means of analysis and analysis and thru schooling of customers, policymakers and security professionals” — cites nationwide police-reported knowledge on deadly crashes. The findings: In 2022, distraction was deemed a contributing issue within the motorcar crashes that led to the deaths of three,308 individuals — 8% of all crash deaths.

The group additionally cautions: “Statistics primarily based on police-reported crash knowledge nearly actually underestimate the function of distraction in deadly crashes. Police crash reviews aren’t a dependable solution to depend cellphone-related collisions as a result of drivers typically don’t volunteer that they have been on the telephone, and there may be often a scarcity of different proof to find out drivers’ telephone use.”

The Nationwide Freeway Site visitors Security Administration agrees: “Distracted driving is an offense typically underreported as a result of the character of the offense signifies that the behaviors related to distracted driving don’t fall below one statute however as a substitute could fall below a number of, together with Texting and Driving, Careless Driving, Failure to Keep a Single Lane and Aggressive Driving.”

It additionally warns that “Distracted driving is harmful… Utilizing a cellular phone whereas driving creates monumental potential for deaths and accidents on U.S. roads.”

The Sunshine State, specifically, faces important points with distracted driving. In response to Florida Freeway Security and Motor Automobiles, preliminary numbers indicated that in 2023, practically 300 individuals in Florida died as a result of distracted driving, up 23 deaths from 2022.

It additionally notes {that a} crash happens each 44 seconds, with one in seven involving distracted drivers.

However Demetrius Branca sees past mere knowledge. He emphasised that these killed aren’t simply numbers or statistics; they’re cherished people.

“In Palm Seashore County, there are practically 2,400 crashes with practically 1,500 accidents and 200 fatalities per 12 months,” Demetrius Branca mentioned throughout a Palm Seashore legislative delegation assembly. “In different states which have handed hands-free legal guidelines with strict enforcement, there was a ten to twenty% discount in site visitors fatalities. In Palm Seashore County, that may be 50 individuals this 12 months alone that may be alive in the present day.

“It’s not simply concerning the lives misplaced; it is usually for individuals who must dwell with out their family members.”

Demetrius Branca performed a key function in getting Florida’s Wi-fi Communication Whereas Driving Regulation handed in 2019. However he insists that’s not sufficient.

The hands-free tour

That legislation, Demetrius Branca notes, inadequately addresses the broader use of telephones past texting, and lacks suffi- cient enforcement powers for officers. He identified that drivers proceed to make use of their telephones for navigation and music whereas emphasizing that fines for texting are not often enforced and end in solely a minimal $30 advantageous and 0 factors in opposition to a driver license.

“The way in which the Florida legislation is written is that in case you are taking a look at your telephone whereas driving recklessly, it’s not a criminal offense. Reasonably, it’s a ‘transferring violation,’ with punishments concerning charges and probably suspensions for driving — just like the case with my son,” he mentioned.

The Naples Pathways Coalition — a company, in accordance with their web site, “devoted to remodeling Collier County right into a haven for pedestrians and cyclists” — and the Anthony Phoenix Branca Basis have aligned themselves with Fingers-Free Florida, a statewide coalition to finish distracted driving in advocating for a phone-interaction ban whereas driving — one that’s supported by legislation enforcement. Their proposal mandates that drivers place their gadgets in a hands-free location that’s not unobstructed from the view of the street, corresponding to a touch mount. It additionally advises drivers to arrange maps and music earlier than driving. Bluetooth calls and messages can be allowed, but when drivers want to interact with gadgets for different functions, it’s endorsed that they pull over to a protected spot to take action.

Within the final legislative session in 2024, the Florida Home unanimously accepted the Anthony Phoenix Branca Basis and Anita Neal Act, which aimed to mandate handsfree cellphone use for drivers. Nonetheless, the invoice stalled within the Senate, failing to advance past its first committee.

This setback has solely strengthened Demetrius Branca’s dedication to stop others from experiencing the profound tragedy that formed his mission.

“A part of that is self-preservation,” he mentioned. “One other half is I’ve this fury inside me on the injustice of all of it. That fury received’t let me relaxation — particularly once I get this shut. I don’t need this to be taken in child steps. It must be taken in grown-adult steps. This is a matter that’s killing our youngsters. Security must be a precedence.”

Throughout this time, Demetrius Branca famous the reluctance of transportation committee members to permit police to examine automobiles for compliance; nonetheless, he argued that this degree of enforcement is parallel to what’s already practiced for seatbelt legal guidelines throughout the state and the nation.

“It might be like repealing the seatbelt legislation or consuming and driving,” he mentioned. “In these conditions, law enforcement officials are wanting into your blood ranges. Each of these didn’t even come into impact till the Eighties.

“We don’t need individuals being attentive to their telephones; we would like individuals being attentive to the street. Fingers-free is the one means to do that. Telephones and gadgets are what distract drivers and trigger so many wrecks.”

The Anthony Phoenix Branca Basis has famous Oregon’s success with the hands-free legislation, citing it has achieved a 31% discount in distracted driving in comparison with the nationwide common and a 16% lower in comparison with main states. These legal guidelines have notably prevented over 5,000 crashes, averted 2,880 accidents and lowered fatalities by 23, leading to greater than $200 million in financial savings from financial damages in 2023.

“I don’t suppose society is prepared for that,” Demetrius Branca mentioned. “I do know legally and legislatively, no one is able to say, ‘Ban all telephones whereas driving.’ However banning individuals from utilizing their fingers to control their telephones does make sense as a result of that’s the core of the distraction.”

The Anthony Phoenix Branca Basis statewide tour has already acquired backing from 9 counties — Alachua, Collier, Gadsden, Jefferson, Leon, Santa Rosa, St. Lucie, Union and Wakulla — which have both handed or pledged to go a hands-free decision.

“We have now had a direct response from a number of senators and lawmakers after talking,” mentioned Demetrius Branca. “That is opening a direct communication line to resolution makers.”

Demetrius Branca lately spoke at legislative delegation conferences in Clay, Pasco, Pinellas and Hillsborough counties.

In the meantime, Michelle Avola-Brown, govt director of Naples Pathways Coalition and coordinator for Fingers- Free Florida, has launched her personal political push, addressing audiences in Collier, Lee and Hendry counties.

A plea for prevention

On the Collier and Lee legislative delegation assembly in early January, Avola Brown — representing Fingers-Free Florida — confused that, in accordance with the NHTSA, street crashes price the U.S. economic system roughly $340 billion yearly.

“9 individuals die on Florida roads each single day, on common,” she mentioned. “Six of them are attributed to distractive drivers. Drivers who work together with their telephones behind the wheel are 23 instances extra prone to be in a crash.

“The Nationwide Freeway Site visitors Security Administration additionally signifies that interacting in your telephone behind the wheel is six instances extra harmful than driving inebriated. But, we see individuals doing this on a regular basis — and at excessive speeds. The main crash kind is rear-ending collisions, that are extremely attributed to distracted drivers.”

Avola-Brown added that Floridians pay about 37% larger than the nationwide common for full protection auto insurance coverage, a mean of $3,200 per 12 months. For minimal protection, charges are $1,100 yearly — 45% larger than the nationwide common.

“Florida has the best development fatality charges within the nation,” Avola-Brown mentioned. “Florida drivers have killed extra individuals strolling or biking than every other state. Our legal guidelines proper now are simply not sturdy sufficient; the loopholes enable individuals to proceed interacting with their telephones, and legislation enforcement tells us the legal guidelines are unenforceable.”

Two variations of the proposed invoice should be submitted to each the Home and Senate for approval earlier than it may be handed and turn into legislation in Florida. If each chambers approve the invoice, it’s despatched to Gov. Ron DeSantis for overview. If the governor approves and indicators, the legislation takes impact on the date specified within the settlement.

Demetrius Branca hopes for the legislation’s passage inside the 12 months and goals to advertise the Anthony Phoenix Branca Basis in native colleges, church buildings and group occasions to lift consciousness concerning the significance of each fingers on the wheel and eyes targeted on the street.

“His thirtieth birthday was arduous,” Demetrius Branca mentioned of his son. “It marked 10 years, and I imagined the place he can be: shopping for a home, having a profession, getting married. And I started occupied with having grandkids. Actually, it appears like an enormous a part of my life simply disappeared, and I awakened within the aftermath of this chaos. I believe it’s wild. This expertise that I’m residing in is simply wild.”

He emphasised that a very powerful factor individuals can do when driving is to place their telephone down.

“Driving is probably the most harmful factor we do each day,” Demetrius Branca mentioned. “Distracted driving is the No. 1 killer of People below 25. Maintain your self and others protected on the street. Additionally, make your voices heard by our elected officers and make Florida hands-free.

“You’re driving a 4,000- to six,000-pound car that may do substantial injury. It may be used as a weapon. We dwell in a state the place we regularly must share the street with these on bikes and pedestrians.

“We shouldn’t be coping with tragedies on our roads when they’re preventable.” listed in FWC’s newest replace in November. ¦

Within the KNOW

Distracted driving assets

· Anthony Phoenix Branca Basis: facebook.com/APBFoundation

· Fingers Free Florida: handsfreeflorida.org

· Florida Freeway Security and Motor Automobiles: flhsmv.gov/safety-center/driving-safety/distracted-driving

· Naples Pathways Coalition: naplespathways.org

· Nationwide Freeway Site visitors Security Administration: nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/distracted-driving

· Insurance coverage Institute for Freeway Security: iihs.org/topics/distracted driving