The state of California's first lady, Maria Shriver, has been photographed violating the handheld cell phone ban that her husband signed into law. The governor promised "swift action." Grounding perhaps? The celebrity gossip web site TMZ posted a photo and video of Shriver yapping while driving at two different times, saying she dropped the cell phone when she realized she was being photographed. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger used Twitter to say: "Thanks for bringing her violations to my attention. There's going to be swift action." About the same time, TMZ said it caught Shriver yet again … [Read more...]
Fed workers banned from texting, driving
October 2, 2009 by Leave a Comment
President Obama has ordered federal employees to stop text messaging while driving on the job. The news was announced Thursday by Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, left, as he spoke on the final day of the DOT's distracted driving summit. "Text messaging causes drivers to take their eyes off the road and at least one hand off the steering wheel, endangering both themselves and others," the president said as he signed the three-page executive order. The ban did not include limits on drivers talking on handheld cell phones, echoing the year's trend in state legislatures. The … [Read more...]
Distracted driving an epidemic, summit told
September 30, 2009 by Leave a Comment
"Distracted driving is a menace to society," Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said Wednesday as he opened the federal summit on text messaging, cell phoning and other forms of dangerous behaviors behind the wheel. The government was ready with the statistical evidence: 5,870 people were killed and 515,000 were injured in 2008 in which distracted driving was a factor. Sixteen percent of fatal crashes had the link, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found. "Distracted driving is an epidemic and it seems to be getting worse every year," LaHood told his audience of experts on … [Read more...]
Automaker backs texting bans
September 12, 2009 by Leave a Comment
Automaker Ford has endorsed congressional plans to force states into banning text messaging while driving. The Ford Motor Co. said it believes hand-held texting "substantially increases the risk of accidents." It is the first U.S. automaker to weigh in on the texting ban issue. Ford's entry into the texting debate has no clear purpose, nor is it likely to make a significant impact on pending legislation. The endorsement does, however, provide some more ammo for lawmakers nationwide seeking to wipe out the dangerous practice. In any case, the Ford endorsement of congressional action has … [Read more...]
Wide support for bans on texting, driving
September 2, 2009 by Leave a Comment
About 80 percent of Americans favor bans on text messaging while driving, according to a new poll on distracted driving habits. A majority of those polled would like to see laws restricting all types of cell phone use behind the wheel -- regardless of whether a hands-free device is employed. The Nationwide Insurance poll on cell phones and text messaging by drivers, conducted in early August, surveyed more than 1,000 adults nationwide. It was conducted independently, by Harris Interactive. Almost two-thirds of the respondents backed some controls on cell phone use by drivers. Three-fourths … [Read more...]
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