Distracted driving bans in 35 states

Distracted driving continues as a national hot-button issue, with U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood leading the charge.

"Am I on a rampage?" LaHood says. "Yes, I am, and why shouldn't I be?" The DOT chief cites 32,885 people killed in distracted driving accidents in 2010.

The year 2012 opened with 35 states having banned text messaging while driving, the latest being Pennsylvania, Nevada, Maine, Indiana and North Dakota. Nine states ban use of handheld cell phones. All allow use of hands-free devices, meaning a hands-free accessory is employed.

Most of the 2011's legislative activity focused on text messaging behind the wheel, considered the most dangerous of the distracted driving activities. Expect more of the same this year as pressure builds in the 17 states that don't have total bans on text messaging .

From a political standpoint, texting while driving proves an easier target than cell phone use. In some cases, pro-ban legislators put off debate on cell phones to push through texting bills. That was the case in Pennsylvania, whose texting ban won final approval Nov. 9.

In December, the National Transportation Safety Board turned up the heat with a recommendation that drivers' use of all portable electronic devices be banned, nationwide.

Several states have made enforcement of their distracted driving laws a higher priority, such as Washington and Louisiana. New York and Connecticut toughened their penalties, but California's governor vetoed a similar plan. In Texas, the governor vetoed a ban on texting.

Celebrities such as Oprah Winfrey, Justin Bieber and Jordin Sparks are busy getting out the word on these unsafe driving practices.

The U.S. Department of Transportation has hosted two successful Distracted Driving Summits. The New York Times won a Pulitzer Prize for its coverage of the issue. Corporations such as AT&T, Nationwide Insurance and BMW have joined the fight.

In Canada, all of the nation's provinces have adopted distracted driving laws.

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