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Congress Takes On Distracted Driving Prevention

Senate bill proposed to deal with 'critical safety issue'

By James Limbach
ConsumerAffairs.com

October 28, 2009

The measure, from Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV, Chairman of the U.S. Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, and Senator Frank R. Lautenberg, Chairman of the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Infrastructure, Safety, and Security, offers incentive grants to states that enact laws to combat distracted driving. It would impose no new mandates and would be funded through existing programs, spending no additional taxpayer dollars.

"Everyone knows the dangers on the road created by distracted drivers -- they are a threat to all families and serious action must be taken," said Rockefeller. "Distracted drivers --people who make the choice to text or use their electronic devices instead of watching the road -- put all our lives at risk."

"It's common sense and a proven fact that driving and texting at the same time is a dangerous combination. Distracted drivers cause accidents, injuries and deaths," according to Lautenberg. "Our legislation offers a comprehensive strategy to combat distracted driving, make our roads safer and save lives."

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) reports that in 2008, almost 6,000 people died from crashes that resulted from distracted driving. This accounted for 16 percent of all traffic fatalities last year, compared with 12 percent of all fatalities in 2007.

At a hearing Wednesday before Rockefeller's panel, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood pointed out that the Obama administration is taking concrete steps to address the problem.

He noted that at a conclusion of a Distracted Driving Summit four weeks ago, the president issued an Executive Order that prohibits federal employees from engaging in text messaging:

• While driving government-owned vehicles;

• When using electronic equipment supplied by the government while driving; and

• While driving privately-owned vehicles when on official government business.

The ban takes effect government-wide on December 30, 2009.

In the House, meanwhile the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit will hear testimony Thursday morning regarding the impact of distracted driving on roadway safety along with efforts and options for combating the problem and integrating emerging technologies on a manner that does not jeopardize roadway safety.

Among those set to testify is Vernon F. Betkey, Jr., chairman of the Governors Highway Safety Association, which represents state highway safety agencies. GHSA says Betkey, who also heads the Maryland Highway Safety Office, will tell lawmakers that research about the safety of hands-free versus hand-held cell phone use is not definitive, and that more study is needed.

He will also point out that there have been no studies on the effectiveness of text message bans, the risks associated with using MP3 players, GPS systems and other nomadic devices while driving and that all of these areas should be studied.

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