Just before the end of September, President Obama signed an executive order banning federal employees from texting behind of the wheel of a government vehicle. The ban also extended to employees' own vehicles if they were using government-issued phones or were on official business.
This announcement coincided with a two-day gathering in Washington to discuss concerns over increasing cell phone use and texting on the road. While most participants agreed that it was an issue worth considering, there was no clear consensus on what a response would look like, or what specific stipulations would be included.
Consensus or no, chances are good that some form of national legislation on texting, extending beyond federal employees, will see the light of day. And it may be sooner than later.
Obama Administration Pushes for Ban on Texting for Bus and Truck Drivers
On October 1, 2009, the Obama administration revealed plans to push for a ban on text messaging by interstate bus drivers, truckers and rail operators. Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood also said that the White House would encourage individual states to pass similar texting bans.
LaHood did stop short of endorsing Chuck Schumer's "ALERT Drivers Act," which proposes a national texting ban and includes penalties for states that do not participate.
Across the country, many states have already passed mobile restrictions, and this trend continues to gather steam. Among the states that do not have restrictions in place, many are considering texting laws or have bills currently up for vote.
States like California, Illinois, New York and Maryland all have laws in place, but vary on specifics. Some states, such as California have a full, mobile ban. Others, like Maryland, only ban texting, but still allow phone use in the car.
Research Reveals True Dangers of Texting While Driving
A national ban on texting by bus drivers and truckers would be a first step towards creating some national consistency, and this initiative has steam, thanks to a recent study on distracted drivers.
After observing truck drivers for a period of time, researchers at the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute concluded that texting drivers were 23 times more likely to be in an accident than undistracted drivers. In 2008 alone, nearly 6,000 people were killed and over 500,000 were injured in crashes involving driver distraction. In many cases, cell phones were involved.
As the government ponders its next steps and state legislators work out plans to make their roads safer, the safest bet for drivers is to simply put the phone away.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a car or truck accident with a distracted driver, call an experienced personal injury attorney immediately to discuss your options.
