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Federal Workers Banned From Texting While Driving

Executive order is part of larger push against distracted driving

By Nick McMaster,  Newser Staff

Posted Oct 1, 2009 3:05 PM CDT
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(Newser) – Federal employees are now forbidden from sending text messages while driving on government business or operating government vehicles. The new executive order, signed by President Obama last night, also encourages executive agencies to adopt texting bans for contractors, reports ABC. "To put it plainly, distracted driving is a menace to society," said Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood at a summit on the issue.

LaHood called the problem an "epidemic," and a highway safety group says drivers who use handheld devices are four times as likely to crash. Congress, meanwhile, is considering a bill that would withhold 25% of federal highway funds from states that allow texting while driving. Washington, DC, and 18 states have already enacted bans.

Towtruck in a pool.
Towtruck in a pool.   (AP Photo/Lockport Union-Sun & Journal, Stephen Wallace)
Texting while driving is dangerous business.
Texting while driving is dangerous business.   (Getty Images)
Actors make a video highlighting the dangers of sending text messages while driving in Tredegar, Wales.
Actors make a video highlighting the dangers of sending text messages while driving in Tredegar, Wales.   (AP Photo/Gwent Police)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 12 comments
yummines
Oct 2, 2009 6:15 AM CDT
i cant believe that this isn't self-explanatory to people. does the government really have to explain that looking at your phone while driving is not a good idea? the only proper way to do that is if you can make your eyes go two different directions at once, one on the road and one on your phone...
Snarfeh
Oct 2, 2009 2:40 AM CDT
@blah - I don't think Aces is decrying the reason to ban texting; Aces is pointing out how hard this will be to enforce and I agree. If the cop does not actually see it, it will be hard to prove as long as the phone is held below the window line. The laws banning it will have to include some subtext about a cop being able to peruse the phone on the spot to see if that is why a person swerved once the driver passes roadside sobriety tests or law enforcement will have to subpoena the phone records to match the time the driver was stopped to text records. This is going to be a pain in the ass to enforce.
cornelison
Oct 1, 2009 11:48 AM CDT
A lot of drivers have common sense. They just don't want to use it.

 
Barack Obama • driving • text message • texting • driver distraction • reckless driving • Ray LaHood

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