By Brenda Penaloza | Opinion
Demetrius Branca spoke to students at Tallahassee State College on April 22 about the heartbreaking loss of his son, Anthony Branca, who was killed by a distracted driver in 2014. He emphasized that this preventable tragedy might have been avoided with legislation prohibiting the use of handheld devices while driving: a hands-free law. Branca stressed that no message or notification on a screen is worth the irreversible cost of taking your eyes off the road.
“It’s gonna take a revolution to shift our culture—where we care more about others than what’s on our phones. It’s about love,” said Branca.
Anthony Phoenix Branca, 19, was a student at Tallahassee Community College, now known as Tallahassee State College. He had aspirations of becoming a journalist, a passion for soccer and playing the saxophone. Described as a “magnificent human destined to change the world” by his father, Demetrius Branca, his contagious charisma and outgoing personality positively impacted the lives of many.
A story shared by his father beautifully reflects Anthony’s caring nature. During his junior year as a member of the Leon High School band, Anthony noticed a timid freshman named Chloe and went out of his way to make her feel welcome, striking up conversation to ease her nervousness.
In May 2015, six months after Anthony’s passing, Chloe received a heartfelt letter from him. A letter that was intended to reach her following her senior year, sent by Anthony six months prior. The letter was filled with encouraging words that urged her to stay motivated through her senior year and to live life on her own terms. He closed the letter with a powerful message:
“Nothing is impossible. Impossible is a word used by the weak to justify giving up. Your big brother forever, Anthony.”
Anthony’s words were not only inspirational to Chloe but also touched everyone who read them, including his father, who continues to draw strength from his son’s unwavering selflessness and positivity.
Anthony’s life journey was tragically cut short on his way to one of his classes, as a driver distracted on his device hit the back of his motorcycle. Anthony leaves behind a legacy of kindness and serves as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by driving distracted.
In the wake of this tragedy, Demetrius Branca has dedicated himself to advocating for the passing of a hands-free law in Florida. Joining an ongoing effort to reduce the number of fatalities caused by distracted driving, he has been traveling the state telling Anthony’s story.
Even something as brief as sending a text while driving can instantly alter the course of someone else’s life.
“We have to change people’s minds and enlighten them on the full picture,” Demetrius Branca said.
Thirty-two states and the District of Columbia have hands-free laws that save lives by reducing the use of handheld devices. The shared goal is to improve road safety by eliminating distractions associated with phone use while driving.
The current statutes in place for Florida, Section 316.305 and Section 316.306, only prohibit “hands free” driving in work and school zones. The enforcement of the law becomes challenging for authorities because the statutes only prohibit texting while driving, while drivers often use phones for other activities that are not explicitly illegal.
On April 9, the Florida Senate passed the hands-free bill with a 29-7 vote. However, the companion bill in the Florida House has stalled, and with the legislative session ending on May 2, the effort to change the law is likely to die.
Uncertainty surrounds the lack of support for the bill, despite the undeniable fact that lives remain at risk every moment they go unprotected.
Commissioner Rick Minor recalls the first time he met Demetrius Branca. While campaigning for county commissioner in the summer of 2018, Minor visited Branca’s residence, where he learned of the tragic loss of Anthony Branca. This encounter highlighted Branca’s commitment to advocating for hands-free driving laws, motivated by a desire to prevent others from enduring the pain of losing a loved one to distracted driving. This meeting marked the beginning of Minor’s advocacy for hands-free legislation.
“Let me know what I can do to help change the law in Florida,” Minor told him at the time.
Minor brought forward a resolution to the Leon County Commission urging support for statewide hands-free legislation. On January 28, the commission adopted the resolution with a unanimous 7-0 vote, reflecting broad backing for the proposed law.
Demetrius Branca’s story has profoundly changed the way Minor drives. After acknowledging his own moments of distracted driving, he made changes to his routine, including equipping his family’s vehicles with phone holders. By implementing changes in his own routine, he not only demonstrated but also reinforced his belief that hands-free legislation has the power to save lives.
“I suspect it’s really about raising awareness of the dangers of handheld devices while driving,” Minor explained. “I didn’t fully understand how dangerous it was.”
In response to some state lawmakers’ reluctance to pass the proposed hands-free bills, Minor emphasized that accepting this legislation requires self-reflection, acknowledging that our actions behind the wheel can impact those around us. Addressing concerns about the law being seen as a “civil liberties issue,” Minor pointed out that Florida’s existing law, Section 316.614, mandates seatbelt usage, which similarly regulates behavior in vehicles without infringing on constitutional rights. Opposing legislation that could prevent families from losing loved ones
Advocates of the hands-free legislation voice that driving is not a right. It is a privilege. That is why the government regulates it with seatbelt, hands-free and other laws. It is a dangerous activity, one that Demetrius Branca has advocated regulating.
“He has turned that pain into action,” said Minor.
Demetrius Branca has embraced a grassroots advocacy approach to emphasize the importance of enforcing hands-free driving laws. Calling on those who remain silent, simply because they haven’t been personally affected to take a stand and help eliminate distracted driving on Florida’s roads. In a state known for its popular attractions and visited by millions of tourists each year, the lack of such legislation leaves both residents and visitors vulnerable to the dangers of distracted driving.
Even a momentary distraction can have lifelong consequences. A single lapse in attention, whether glancing at your phone, reaching for something, or simply losing focus can lead to an irreparable tragedy. In just a few seconds, lives can be forever changed.
