Ray LaHood Double Talks on "Voluntary" Efforts to Reduce Distracted Driving
I have nothing against U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood personally but the fact that a chucklehead like LaHood has a job with any kind of legal authority makes me despair for the republic.
The man talks out of both sides of his mouth with seemingly no sense of self-awareness. In comments made while announcing a “blueprint” to end distracted driving, Sec. LaHood’s biggest hobby horse, the federal transportation secretary said he was calling on automakers to increase “voluntary” efforts to reduce distracted driving. “We think voluntary is the better way to go now,” “We’re not considering a rule,” and “I don’t have a bill to hand to Congress,” were LaHood’s talking points. The mailed fist inside that voluntary velvet glove was made clear in his other remarks, “We’re looking at things that have worked. We think good laws work. We think good enforcement works.” LaHood also urged Congress to enact stricter laws on distracted driving, perhaps a nationwide ban on cell phone use behind the wheel. Just to keep things “voluntary” LaHood said those proposed laws were only his personal preference.
What Washington does not accomplish with rules and laws, or voluntary compliance, it accomplishes with bribery and extortion. If states hope to get back some of the money their residents pay to Washington in the form of fuel and other taxes, they have to dance to Washington’s tune. As LaHood was laying out his blueprint for a future filled with voluntary compliance, his department announced $2.4 million in federal funding for California and Delaware to increase enforcement of local and state ordinances concerning distracted driving. LaHood has made distracted driving a major focus of his job as transportation secretary. He started this campaign three years ago and his devotion to “voluntary” efforts have, in the words of the Automotive News, “prompted 39 states and the District of Columbia to ban texting while driving.”
Ronnie Schreiber edits Cars In Depth, a realistic perspective on cars & car culture and the original 3D car site. If you found this post worthwhile, you can dig deeper at Cars In Depth. If the 3D thing freaks you out, don’t worry, all the photo and video players in use at the site have mono options. Thanks for reading – RJS
Ronnie Schreiber edits Cars In Depth, the original 3D car site.
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LaHood reminds me of Ed Meese, a "conservative" who can't stop sticking his nose in other peoples' business. I'm all for the government weighing costs and benefits when it is considering regulations, but the BENEFITS have to be weighed. People text and answer their phone because it is useful. The call that tells Johnny to go to school with Mrs. Smith means Ms. Jones doesn't have to drive home then drive to school then back again to pick up Johnny. Let's see him hold down the role of a working parent with kids going in different directions, and let's see how long he goes before using his cellphone behind the wheel.
I know I brought it up before, but Cirrus (a maker of personal airplanes) announced an option for 2012 models to have texting built into the airplane, so you don't need to fumble with your iPhone while flying an approach to minimums. The price of texting option is $14,000. Texts are to be enterered and displayed using the standard Flight Management Computer that is already installed in the airplane. Now, two things: - It's a good thing that La Hood does not yet know about it - Why is it ok for pilots but not ok for drivers As an aside, the $14k for the privilege of texting in flight has to do with using Iridium as the carrier (so that you can text while over an open ocean), plus the usual expense of having avionics engineered and certified. I understand that it would laughed at if GM offered a $14k option of texting for Escalade.