Despite overwhelming evidence that holding a phone and talking while driving can be dangerous, Pennsylvania has still not banned the practice, writes Justine McDaniel for the Philadelphia Inquirer.

The Keystone State is not alone in this, as currently only 16 states have made talking on a handheld cellphone while driving a car illegal. In fact, all of the legislative bills proposed in Pennsylvania in recent years have failed to find support in Harrisburg.

At present, a bill sponsored by Rep. Rosemary Brown requiring the use of a hands-free device while talking and driving is stalled due to the summer recess of the Pennsylvania House session.

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“Representing a district on the border of both New York and New Jersey, I believe it is not only safer but also more consistent for drivers who frequently travel throughout these border states,” said Brown.

According to Kara Macek, a spokesperson for the Governors Highway Safety Association, one of the reasons laws like this are having trouble finding support is because the legislators most likely engage in this behavior themselves.

“It’s challenging to pass a law that will inconvenience you,” she said.

Read more about talking while driving in the Philadelphia Inquirer by clicking here.