Bicyclists in California narrowly escaped having distracted driving prohibitions placed on them recently, when the governor inexplicably vetoed SB 28. Bicyclists squawked up a storm when state Sen. Joe Simitian included them for the first time in his plan for tougher penalties for distracted driving violations. The lobby backed off, but no doubt the two-wheelers' protests helped kill the senator's life-saving plan. Now, distracted bicyclists are under the microscope in Chicago, where the head of the City Council's Committee on Pedestrian and Traffic Safety proposes a ban on handheld cell … [Read more...]
NTSB: Put brakes on DD truckers
September 14, 2011 by 2 Comments
All cell phone use by all commercial drivers should be prohibited, the NTSB has recommended. National Transportation Safety Board chairwoman Deborah Hersman called tractor-trailer rigs "80,000-pound unguided missiles" when their drivers are distracted by cell phone use. The U.S. Department of Transportation already is working on a plan to prohibit interstate commercial truck and bus drivers from using hand-held cell phones. Text messaging by interstate truckers already is prohibited. The NTSB pointed to a horrific 2010 crash near Munfordville, Ky., in which the driver of an 18-wheeler … [Read more...]
SB 28 vetoed in California
September 7, 2011 by 1 Comment
California's governor has vetoed a plan to double fines for distracted driving violations, saying he was not interested in "ratcheting up the penalties as prescribed by this bill." The legislation was Senate Bill 28, approved by the state House and Senate, and sent to Gov. Jerry Brown on Aug. 15. The bill's author, Sen. Joe Simitian, said the veto resulted in "a lost opportunity to save more lives." Brown wrote in his veto message: "For people of ordinary means, current fines and penalty assessments should be sufficient deterrent." Under the Simitian plan, fines for using handheld cell … [Read more...]
Alberta DD law now in effect
August 26, 2011 by 3 Comments
Alberta took its time installing a distracted driving law -- it's the eighth Canadian province to do so -- but the new rules clearly are among the most comprehensive in North America. The new Alberta distracted driving law went into effect next Thursday, Sept. 1. The fine is $172 (total). (This post updated Sept. 1) In addition to banning text messaging, emailing and the use of handheld cell phones for drivers, the law prohibits other use various other handheld electronic communications devices, grooming, non-commercial use of CB radios, GPS data entry, writing, drawing, sketching, reading … [Read more...]
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