Distracted driving legislation found favor with the governors of Georgia, Connecticut, Vermont and Kansas in recent days. In Georgia, it was drama on deadline for the text messaging and cell phone bills approved by the Legislature. The governor threatened vetoes, citing enforcement issues. "None of this business is black and white," Gov. Sonny Perdue said. Safety advocates, lawmakers and students lobbied furiously in the final days of the legislative session for Perdue to sign the bills, which he did with no time to spare. Georgia's new distracted driving laws take effect July 1. Text … [Read more...]
Drivers: We’re texting, talking less
June 3, 2010 by Leave a Comment
U.S. drivers have cut back on talking and texting, thanks in part to distracted-driving laws, legislation and awareness, according to a new survey. Nationwide Insurance reports that about 40 percent of drivers who admit to texting while behind the wheel say they do it less frequently than they did a year ago. Of the 47 percent of drivers who say they engage in phone conversations while on the road, 30 percent reported that they do it less than last year. While the time spent on these distracted driving behaviors apparently is down, the percentage of people who admit to texting and talking … [Read more...]
U.N. mobilizes against distracted driving
May 22, 2010 by Leave a Comment
Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has thrown the U.N.'s weight behind a global push to stamp out distracted driving. Ban also has ordered the U.N.'s 40,000 staffers to stop texting while behind the wheel of the organization's vehicles. Ban said at a New York gathering for the global distracted driving campaign: "We are seeing a major emerging challenge of driver distraction, mainly by using mobile phones. Together we have a message to all drivers of the world -- don't let using a mobile for a few seconds make you and others immobile for life." (Photo, from left: Jennifer Smith, Ban Ki-moon, … [Read more...]
The distracted driving dictionary
May 8, 2010 by 3 Comments
Like all social issues, distracted driving has a unique terminology that's used by those involved in the conversation -- legislators, police, activists, researchers and so on. Here, in context, are some of the key words and phrases used in the national debate over distracted driving: Distracted driving: Covers a wide range of activities that draw away a driver's attention from the road. Bills that seek bans on handheld cell phones and text messaging devices typically are classified as distracted driving legislation. In a broader sense, activities such as putting on makeup, operating a … [Read more...]
‘Oprah’ carries Michigan text bill signing
April 29, 2010 by Leave a Comment
Gov. Jennifer Granholm had been expected to sign Michigan lawmakers' ban on text messaging while driving. No one figured she'd be doing it on "The Oprah Winfrey Show." Granholm signed the bill in downtown Detriot, during a rally shown live on the second live "Oprah" special dedicated to the dangers of distracted driving. "Thanks for your leadership," the governor said to the talk show host. The "Oprah" program also broadcast parts of no-cell-phone rallies in Atlanta, Los Angeles, Boston and Washington, D.C. Winfrey declared April 30 "National No Phone Zone Day," named after her distracted … [Read more...]
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