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Jul. 30, 2009

Under stiff proposed legislation being presented by a group of Democratic senators, U.S. states would be required to ban driving while texting or face the loss of new funds proposed under Obama's new infrastructure investment program to build new roads, bridges and highways.

So far, no less than 14 states and the District of Columbia have passed new and stiffer laws making text messaging while driving illegal, and would also carry severe penalties for drivers.

"The U.S. federal government ought to pass a new law banning this crazy and growing practice to protect the millions of Americans on our nation's roads. It's strictly a matter of public safety," said Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., who was to unveil the new legislation yesterday along with Democrats Robert Menendez of New Jersey, Mary Landrieu of Louisiana and Kay Hagan of North Carolina.

Aimed at reducing driver distraction and highway deaths and injuries, the proposal follows a series of studies that prove the serious dangers of drivers taking their eyes off the road to operate the handheld electronic devices.

The Virginia Tech Transportation Institute found that when drivers of heavy trucks texted, their collision risk was 23 times greater than when not texting. Dialing a cell phone and using or reaching for an electronic device increased risk of collision about six times in cars and trucks. The information was revealed in a study released earlier this week.

The Virginia Tech researchers said the risks of texting generally applied to all drivers, not just truckers.

The proposed legislation would require all U.S. states to ban texting or e-mailing while operating a moving vehicle or risk losing 25 to 50 percent of their annual federal highway funding. It would be patterned after the way Congress required states to adopt a national drunken driving ban.

However, states could still recover highway funds by passing the legislation following the two-year period if they wish to do so.

The proposed new bill would target the activity in a moving vehicle and not prohibit a driver from texting or e-mailing in a fully stopped car or truck.

The transportation secretary would be required to issue new guidelines within 6 months of the measure being signed into law, and states then would have two years to approve the bans on texting and driving, and to fully implement the new law state-wide.

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Source: The Virginia Tech Transportation Institute.