Distracted Driving Summit a productive start to an urgent situation--but only a start

Some years from now, when we have made significant progress defeating the epidemic that is Distracted Driving, we will remember this moment.

Now, that is not to say that people haven't already been working to reduce this threat for several years. Those people, who were way out in front on this, deserve all the credit in the world.

But, yesterday and today, at our Distracted Driving Summit, we achieved what can only be described as critical mass.

For that, I thank everyone involved in the Distracted Driving Summit, from DOT organizers to panelists to web-followers.

And, once again, I want to particularly thank our youth panel and those advocates who have lost family members to this irresponsible driving practice; I admire their courage for publicly telling and re-telling what must be painful, painful stories.

Now the heavy lifting begins, and DOT is ready to lead in that work. In fact, we've already started.

(Please read about our important initial actions below the jump.)

• First, as I told the summit today, President Obama has issued an Executive Order directing federal employees not to engage in texting while driving government vehicles, when using government-issued electronic devices, and when driving their own vehicles using their own devices while on government business.

The order encourages federal contractors and others doing business with the government to adopt and enforce policies banning texting while driving on the job.

This should be a clear signal to the American public that distracted driving is dangerous and it is unacceptable. This Administration is leading by example. And this is a very big deal.

• Next, DOT will work with Congress, with state and local governments, and with other stakeholders to ensure that this issue is appropriately addressed.

• And, we will initiate 3 separate actions:

1. Make permanent restrictions on the use of cell phones and other electronic devices in rail operations.
2. Ban text messaging altogether and restrict the use of cell phones by truck drivers and intersate bus operators.
3. Disqualify school bus drivers convicted of texting while driving from maintaining commercial driver's licenses.

• We will also call on state and local governments to make distracted driving part of their state highway plans and to pass laws against distracted driving in all types of vehicles, particularly school buses.

We will encourage states and local jurisdictions to pursue high-visibility enforcement, which has proven effective in reducing drunk driving.

• We'll work with advocates and industry groups to change our culture and mark this behavior as unacceptable.

We won't fix this problem overnight, but we are going to raise awareness and sharpen the consequences.

In the end, however, we cannot simply legislate this problem away. If we're going to improve road safety in this country, we're going to need our drivers to use common sense and show some consideration for other drivers and their passengers, for pedestrians, and for bicyclists.

As the grandfather of 9 great kids and as Transportation Secretary, I want to know that our roads will be safe.

By this time next year, every driver in America should be far more aware of the risks and consequences of distracted driving. Driving while distracted should feel wrong--just as driving while intoxicated now feels wrong to most American drivers.

These past two days, we made a great start, and we will remember this moment. But these discussions will prove meaningless unless we follow up with action. We should all be encouraged, but none of us should be content.

Comments

[Michael E. Bailey]

The summet sounds like a great success. I am especially glad the administration is out in front on this leading by example and giving this problem a high profile and that USDOT is taking concrete steps to deal with it with interstate trucking, buses, and school buses. The driving and using cell phone law seems to be working here in California after going into effect in January. But until now only California and a few other states where willing to treat this issue as the serious problem it is. Now we can dare to hope that every state will take concrete steps to deal with it just as they have done with drunk driving. Best wishes, Michael E. Bailey.

[Michael E. Bailey]

The Distracted Driving Summit was a great success. A lot of people and a lot of states understand the problem and that something had to be done but they were waiting for leadership to move them forward and this has done that. Some places in the Rocky Mountain West and the Deep South probably won't want to do anything no matter what but they might be persuaded to do something if they found out they could, say, get more federal highway fund money if they did. But this has been great. Thank you and best wishes, Michael E. Bailey.

[Diana M.]

Thanks, Secretary La Hood, for this initiative. Strict enforcement is key. I lived in Chicago (in the President's neighborhood) when a ban on using hand-held cell phones went into effect, but I saw no decrease in the number of times I almost was run down by cell-phone-using drivers. I think the culture of talking or texting while driving will start to change when there's a real risk of getting a stiff ticket for doing so and having one's insurance rates go up.

[Karen Zizzo]

Crashes caused by distracted driving are exceeding those caused by driving while intoxicated. This summit in Washington comes at a time when the general public needs to be informed about the dangers of texting while driving. We have developed a safety awareness campaign "Drive Now...Text Later". As we present our campaign to each states highway safety department....we encourage our leaders in government to push the ban on text messaging behind the wheel. Through awareness and enforcement we can save lives!

[Inexpensive cell phones]

I'm completely on board with the banning of texting while driving. They also need to ban dialing out while driving as well as Officers aren't going to be able to tell the difference. When someone goes to court to fight the ticket then they will have the simple defense of "I was just dialing out".

[Wayne Taliaferro]

It is not fair for deaf communties. IF it is banned full time, we will sue as ADA law abuse because They should warn and education to them how to use texting or cell like Do/Don't rule. I agree with school zone because I am uncle who pick my brother's kid weekdays. because My brother use text to me if He need me to get his kid fast as my text is on.. I understand how it get your attention on road but use your wise on road. same thing with kids in back as wild, or change radio channel or crazy driver. we knew that since in drive education class. so if they want change as rule.. I prefer that they put poster at any cell sale place and rail place or anywhere .. I am glad that I have text because I can communciate with my family .. I have 20 deaf in my family and 20 hearing family.. so it is 50/50 for me.. so pls use rule instead banned it fully..

[David Deangelo]

The problem I see is distracted driving is not real to people until they have a close call or an accident. AL lot of people comply with getting had free cell phones, but a lot of people who can't afford it don't really think that it is a problem because they do it all the time and get away with it. Sort of like the "tailgating" problem. It only takes one time to get yourself killed.

I believe we need better education so people get that it is a real problem.

[hgv training]

Banning Texting while driving is a good idea. But how are you gonna enforce this. Using a mobile phone whilst driving in the UK is against the law yet everyone still does it as no one can enforce it properly

[hgv training]

Banning texting is an absolute must! it is more dangerous thanusing a mobile to talk as you are not actually looking at the road!

The Police need to take this more seriously, and so do drivers!

[HGV Licence Training]

We already have laws within the UK that its illegal to drive while using your phone. Hands free kids are allowed and the introduction of voice controls through Iphones should be enforced further so people can text speak while driving.

[PCO Licence]

Texting is even more dangerous than simply speaking on the phone as usually two hands will be off the wheel!

The laws in the UK already make this illegal but people still do it.

Hopefully they will learn before something bad really happens.

[Forklift Certification]

I still see people texting or using their phones whilst driving and they seem to forget that they are in charge of something that can be a lethal weapon. Hopefully the actions above are getting through to some people and they are aware that driving needs to have 100% of your concentration as anything can happen in a split second.

[ken]

now a days is easier not to get distracted with the hands off devices, but you always have to be precausios