93.9 The Eagle – The News and Talk of Columbia, MO
Missouri’s transportation director credits a Columbia widow for this year’s passage of a bipartisan hands-free driving law.
Adrienne Siddens will join state Department of Transportation (MoDOT) director Patrick McKenna at this morning’s buckle up phone down day at state Highway Patrol headquarters in Jefferson City. Adrienne’s husband Randall was picking up traffic cones after a 2019 race on Columbia’s Grindstone Parkway, and there was a police vehicle with flashing lights behind him. Randall Siddens was struck and killed by a motorist who was speeding and on a video chat.
Adrienne Siddens also appeared in September in Columbia at Missouri’s 2023 highway safety and traffic conference, where she received thunderous applause from the 520 attendees. State Department of Transportation (MoDOT) director Patrick McKenna was near tears that day. Director McKenna told 939 the Eagle right after the ovation that the new law would not have passed without Adrienne Siddens and her personal story.
Director McKenna, Ms. Siddens and state troopers will speak at today’s event. The new law, which took effect on August 28, prohibits motorists from physically holding or supporting a cell phone with any part of their body. It also prohibits drivers from conducting video calls while driving. Missouri state troopers say they’re issuing warnings until January 2025, when they’ll start writing tickets.
