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  1. #1
    Senior Member JohnDoe2's Avatar
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    New law bans federal employees from texting while driving

    New regulation bans federal employees from texting while driving

    The administration also urges states to pass laws against distracted driving. One senator even proposes tying federal highway funds to passage of such legislation.

    By Kim Geiger
    October 1, 2009 | 2:26 p.m.

    Reporting from Washington - In an effort to curb accidents caused by distracted driving, the Obama administration has banned federal employees from text messaging while driving and said it would consider new restrictions on cellphone use by rail, truck and bus drivers.

    President Obama signed an executive order Wednesday night telling federal employees not to send text messages while driving on the job or in a government-owned vehicle. Also Wednesday, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood called on state and local governments to pass laws to discourage distracted driving.

    "Driving while distracted should just feel wrong -- just as driving without a seat belt, or driving while intoxicated, seems wrong to most Americans." LaHood said at a summit on the issue.

    Distracted driving delays reaction time as much as a blood alcohol content of 0.08%, according to research by the University of Utah. Deaths due to driver distraction are up since 2004, and are most common among young, inexperienced drivers, the National Center for Statistics and Analysis reported.

    LaHood said the administration would push states to pass laws against distracted driving, especially for school bus drivers. The department will also seek a new rule to revoke commercial driver's licenses for school bus drivers convicted of texting while driving.

    Driving while talking on hand-held cellphones has been banned in seven states, including California, and texting while driving has been banned in 18 states. Seventeen states have made it illegal for school bus drivers to use cellphones while driving.

    The announcement came at the close of a two-day summit on the topic. Participants included lawmakers, safety experts and industry representatives.

    The American Trucking Assns. supports the department's plans, noting that its member companies already require drivers to observe such policies.

    Sen. Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) wrote a bill that would go even further, tying state passage of laws against distracted driving to federal highway funds. At the summit, Schumer urged the administration to endorse the bill, which would require all states to ban texting or e-mailing by all drivers or risk losing 25% of their yearly highway funds.

    "The fact is, the federal government cannot, by itself, outlaw texting while driving," Schumer said, noting that states have the authority to make such laws. "But the federal government can make it hard for those states that don't go along."

    kgeiger@tribune.com

    http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld ... 5988.story
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  2. #2
    Senior Member agrneydgrl's Avatar
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    Well isn't that grand? Like you have to catch them first. Why does the Federal government bother with things like this. Maybe if we pass enough laws nobody will die. Don't get me wrong, I think it IS wrong to talk or text while driving. Most people already know this, they just gnore it.

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