In The News

Another bill proposed to stop distracted driving

WASHINGTON — Sen. John D. Rockefeller IV, D-W.Va., has a plan that would reward states for passing distracted driving legislation rather than penalizing them as does another pending bill.

Rockefeller’s bill would offer federal funds to states that enact laws against driving while texting or talking on a hand-held device.

Sen. Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y. has introduced legislation that would require states to ban texting while driving or risk losing federal highway funds.

The Senate Commerce Committee will hold a hearing on Schumer’s bill this afternoon, and it’s expected that Rockefeller’s legislation may be discussed.

Researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham University Transportation Center (UAB UTC) have called distracted driving an epidemic, adding that an estimated 800,000 vehicles were driven by someone using a cell phone in 2008, according to the Department of Transportation.

Despina Stavrinos, Ph.D., and part of the Injury Control Research Center at UAB UTC, attended Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood’s Distracted Driving Summit Sept. 30 and Oct. 1. She said that at the summit it was suggested that banning cell phone use while driving would be a strong initial step toward dealing with distracted driving issues.

“Unfortunately, legislation alone will not solve the problem,” Stavrinos said. “We need to reach a point where distracted driving is perceived as wrong, in the same light as not wearing a seat belt or driving under the influence. Legislation and widespread education efforts may be the best strategy for combating the distracted driving epidemic.”

Barb Kampbell of The Trucker staff can be reached for comment at [email protected] .

www.theTrucker.com