The government of Victoria, Australia, has an official message for its citizens: "Don't be a dickhead. Don't use your phone." The opposition party and a loose coalition of teachers, moralists and conservatives aren't amused, saying the driving safety campaign sends a bad message to the state's youth and is an affront to educators. Finance and Water minister Tim Holding says, "Whatever it is, indeed it's already promoted debate." "Our road safety campaigns in Victoria have always provoked debate and discussion and sometimes it's because of the graphic images that have been presented, … [Read more...]
Archives for April 2010
Maryland OKs handheld cell phone ban
April 10, 2010 by Leave a Comment
Maryland’s Legislature has approved a ban on handheld cell phone use while driving. The law will team up with the state's ban on text messaging while driving, approved last year. The handheld cell phone bill, which calls for “secondary” enforcement,” won final approval April 9 and was sent to Gov. Martin O’Malley, who plans to sign it. The same day, a Nebraska ban on texting while driving was sent to the governor. It, too, is limited to secondary status. The state's governor vetoed a distracted driving bill in 2007, but was overridden. The Maryland measure, which originated in the Senate, … [Read more...]
Iowa texting ban takes effect July 1
April 1, 2010 by 4 Comments
Iowa became the 21st state to ban text messaging while driving as Gov. Chet Culver signed the plan into law. The state's public safety commissioner then presented the governor with a coffee mug that said: "Don't Drive Intexticated." "We want to be the very best state in America when it comes to safe roads," Culver said -- although the Iowa texting ban was watered down to secondary-enforcement status as it made its way through the Legislature. (The measure was a compromise by the House and Senate.) The law's additional ban on use of all handheld electronic devices by teen drivers with … [Read more...]
DOT seeks full trucking & texting ban
April 1, 2010 by Leave a Comment
The nation's interim ban on text messaging by truckers is on the road to becoming permanent. The U.S. Department of Transportation announced Wednesday that it had officially proposed the rule and was entering a 30-day comment period. "We get that the trucking biz is hard," DOT chief Ray LaHood tweeted after the announcement. "We're just trying to save lives." The rule applies to interstate truckers and bus drivers whose vehicles weigh more than 10,000 pounds. Violators would face fines and possible disqualification from commercial trucking. The interim ban was based on interpretation of … [Read more...]
Recent Comments