Two distracted driving bills sit in Missouri Senate

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Missouri Legislative session ends Friday at 6:00 p.m and there are two bills that have not been passed regarding distracted driving.

The bills could come up in the senate anytime before the 6:00 p.m deadline but it is uncertain as the senate is filibustering on other issues.

According to AAA in 2020, there were 82 people killed in distracted driving crashes.

Back on May 5th of 2019, Regine McCracken was face timing and speeding on Grindstone Parkway when she went around a police escort and hit Randall Siddens as he was picking up construction cones after a triathlon earlier that day.

Emergency crews took Siddens to the hospital, he died six months later from his injuries.

Widow Adrienne Siddens filed a lawsuit against McCracken. Wednesday Boone County Judge Joshua Devine ordered McCracken to pay $10 million-plus interest for the crash.

McCracken was sentenced to ten years in prison last year.

Senate Bill 7-1-3 and House Bill 1487 would make it illegal to drive on Missouri roads while using a cell phone.

According to AAA, there have been 577 people killed on Missouri roads caused by distracted driving.

Nick Chabarria with AAA says, "59% of the time it's someone other than the distracted driver that's killed in a distracted driving crashed right here in Missouri."

Chabarria says, that Missouri's current law that makes texting and driving illegal for those under 21 sends the wrong message to those over 21.

"80% of the time that driver is over the age of 21 so not even covered by Missouri's current law," Chabarria said.

According to a survey conducted by the Remington Research group, 69% of Missourians are in favor of distracted driving laws, 20% are opposed and 10% are undecided.

ABC 17 News reached out to Adrienne Siddens for comment regarding the final judgment but did not hear back.