LAKE BUENA VISTA — In an effort to make driving on Florida’s roadways safer, Walt Disney World said it is joining a statewide push to stop drivers from texting and driving.
Disney announced Tuesday that it has joined a coalition of state and national organizations, including the Florida League of Cities, Florida Sheriffs Association, AAA and the city of Orlando to support legislation to stop motorists from texting behind the wheel.
Disney cited a statistic from the National Safety Council, saying more than 100,000 crashes happen each year in the United States because of drivers who are distracted by activities like texting, emailing and sending instant messages; and a study by the Virginia Tech Highway Safety Institute that found individuals who text while driving are 23 times more likely to be involved in a crash.
Florida is one of the few states without a distracted driving law. The Florida House and Senate are expected to discuss a measure to prohibit distracted driving during the upcoming legislative session.
In a statement Tuesday, Disney said: “As part of an ongoing commitment to safety, Walt Disney World Resort is already among the growing number of companies across Florida that has a distracted driving policy in place.”