LaHood Plans "Distracted Driving Summit"

Edward Niedermeyer
by Edward Niedermeyer

“If it were up to me, I would ban drivers from texting,” the Secretary of Transportation tells the LA Times. Happily, LaHood does not have the authority to unilaterally enact laws, so, “that’s why I have decided to convene a summit of senior transportation officials, safety advocates, law enforcement representatives, members of Congress and academics who study these matters.” The conference is expected to yield “concrete steps” to curb the threat of distracted drivers. Like an education and awareness campaign. Meanwhile, the Avoiding Life-Endangering and Reckless Texting by Drivers Act (ALERT Drivers, geddit?) has been introduced to the Senate. This bill would force states to pass texting-while-driving bans (with DOT-set minimum penalties) within two years of its passage, or risk losing 25 percent of their federal highway funding. Just like the good old double-nickel days. Meanwhile, has anyone thought about the difficulty in enforcing such a ban?

Edward Niedermeyer
Edward Niedermeyer

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  • Old Guy Ben Old Guy Ben on Aug 06, 2009

    I'm ready to buy one of those gizmos that jam's cell phone reception, but apparently? THAT would be illegal. Looks like the idiots will win this one, too.

  • Dynamic88 Dynamic88 on Aug 06, 2009
    Finally, it will be easier to shame people into stopping. I yelled at some woman who had been texting when we got stopped at a light, and she acting like she had every right to be texting, and that I was harassing her. If there had been a law, she probably would have stopped. But there wasn't a law, so she did have every right, and you were harassing her.
  • Dangerous Dave Dangerous Dave on Aug 06, 2009

    I'm all for a law banning texting while driving, its insane. What I don't like is the Federal Government blackmail of the states. Either make it a federal law, or recommend the states enact the law. Most states would jump on it as a new source of revenue, without the blackmail.

  • Hellcakes Hellcakes on Aug 07, 2009
    I’m ready to buy one of those gizmos that jam’s cell phone reception, but apparently THAT would be illegal. They're not strong enough to jam a phone 20+ feet away and behind two layers of Car, anyway. Not that I'd know...
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