Something's eating at me. You may have heard that Oak Park, Ill., is considering a ban on eating while driving. Yes, that and sipping on drinks and putting on makeup and ... texting and cell phone use. "This isn't government overreach; this is the government protecting people," said Oak Park village trustee Colette Lueck, who floated the idea in the middle of debate over texting and handheld cell phones. Actually, that would be government overreach. Lueck, apparently, is dead serious. And the media has lapped up the story about banning eating while driving. Critics of electronic … [Read more...]
Bubblehead wants you — to stop texting
August 23, 2011 by Leave a Comment
The usual sights on the 405 Freeway in Los Angeles include famous street signs, beautiful sunsets, colorful graffiti -- and plenty of law-breaking distracted drivers: SUV owners yakking on cell phones; teens texting away while behind the wheel. Now there's "Bubblehead," a giant Barbarella-like cutie holding up a cell phone whose on-screen message reads: "PLS DNT TXT & DRIVE." Los Angeles artist Mike McNeilly created the 13,000-square-foot billboard as part of his continuing series of public service works starring the Bubblehead character, so named because she's wearing a space helmet -- and … [Read more...]
Faces of Distracted Driving: Heather Hurd
August 12, 2011 by Leave a Comment
Heather Hurd is the latest victim featured by the U.S. DOT in its "Faces of Distracted Drivng" video series. In 2008, the 26-year-old was on the way to her wedding planner's office in Orlando when a trucker who was fumbling for his text messaging device slammed into nine vehicles at a red light. Hurd and another woman were killed, and Hurd's fiance was seriously injured. The wreck occurred on Florida’s infamous "Bloody 27" highway. A stretch of the road was renamed in Heather Hurd's memory. Her parents became distracted driving activists and went on to help create Heather's Law (2009) in … [Read more...]
Double trouble for distracted driver; mayor busted
July 26, 2011 by 1 Comment
A pair of odds and ends, with the emphasis on odd: Here's a candidate for the world's most brazen distracted driver: British police were in the process of stopping David Secker of Norwich for using a handheld cell phone while driving on a freeway. To their astonishment, the officers then realized that he was texting on another cell phone. The capper: Secker reportedly made the officer wait for him to finish his cell phone call. Sentencing is Aug. 15. Toronto's mayor allegedly gave the finger to a citizen who scolded him for using a cell phone while driving. Ottilie Mason said she gave … [Read more...]
Disney, DOT push safety, ‘Cars 2’
June 15, 2011 by 1 Comment
Hey you out there, talking & texting while behind the wheel. You are now officially a Disney villain -- just like that motoring maniac Cruella de Vil. "In our world, only bad guys drive distracted," the narrator says in the fast-moving "Cars 2" PSA created by the Disney and Pixar in partnership with the Department of Transportation. (video below) How to become a Disney hero, like Lightning McQueen? "No calling, no texting. Nothing that can take away your focus." DOT distracted driving czar Ray LaHood quipped: "I think you'll agree that 'Cars 2's' Lightning McQueen and Mater make pretty … [Read more...]
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