Props to Gov. M. Jodi Rell for her plan to toughen Connecticut's existing ban on driving and talking on handheld cell phones. She's pushing for a text messaging ban, too. No doubt Rell is one of the good guys on this issue. But, get a load of the unfortunate wording in this invitation from the gov's official web site: Dear Friends: If you are like me, there are days when you are on the road all day, away from your computer and with limited access to e-mail. However, you want to be the first to know of the important news ... from my office. Now you can. Sign up today to get text messages … [Read more...]
Archives for January 2010
Study: Handheld cell bans have no effect
January 30, 2010 by 1 Comment
Bans on handheld cell phone use by drivers aren't cutting into accident rates, according to a study by insurance industry researchers. "This finding doesn't auger well for any safety payoff from all the new laws that ban phone use and texting while driving," the leader of the Highway Loss Data Institute said. Collision claims in Calfornia, Connecticut and the District of Columbia remained about the same after they adopted bans on the use of handheld cell phones (meaning those without hands-free functionality), the group said. New York did show a decrease, but researchers dismissed that … [Read more...]
Texting banned for truckers, bus drivers
January 26, 2010 by 3 Comments
Truckers and bus drivers have been barred from text messaging on the job, following announcement of a federal ban on the practice. "We know that a commercial truck or bus driven by someone texting is a lethal weapon," says U.S. Transportation chief Ray LaHood. The ban -- which includes the use of handheld cell phones for texting -- officially comes from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. It applies to interstate truck drivers and commercial bus or van drivers who carry more than eight passengers. Penalties for texting and driving for truckers will be up to $2,750. Hood, who … [Read more...]
Oprah’s ‘No Phone Zone’ campaign
January 15, 2010 by 34 Comments
Oprah wants her viewers to know "how absolutely stupid it is that we continue to text and drive." The TV talk titan devoted Monday's show to distracted driving, with appearances by people who have lost loved ones to someone using a handheld cell phone or text messaging. Oprah Winfrey's Harpo Productions said the show's effort against distracted driving would be called the "No Phone Zone" campaign. Fans are asked to pledge not to use cell phones while driving. Update: "We need to make our own movement to stop (cell phoning and text messaging while driving)," Winfrey told her audience. "Don't … [Read more...]
FocusDriven: support for cell phone victims
January 13, 2010 by Leave a Comment
Born of personal tragedies, a group that fights the use of cell phones while driving has been launched with the help of the National Safety Council and the U.S. Department of Transportation. FocusDriven describes itself as "an advocacy group for victims of motor vehicle crashes involving drivers using cell phones." The founders (pictured) all lost family members to crashes caused by drivers who were distracted by their cell phones. The group's mission recalls that of Mothers Against Drunk Driving. They include president Jennifer Smith, who lost her mother to a distracted driver in Oklahoma … [Read more...]
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