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...]
LaHood to critics: ‘We won’t be deterred’
January 21, 2011 by 2 Comments
Shrugging off his critics, DOT crusader Ray LaHood reaffirmed his passion for the fight against distracted driving. In a Washington ceremony marking the first anniversary of FocusDriven's founding, the Department of Transportation chief responded to recent public criticisms of his zeal from the former leader of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration: "We will not be deterred by false choices about addressing distracted driving on the one hand and alternative critical safety issues on the other," LaHood told his audience. Jeffrey Runge, the former highway safety official, told … [Read more...]
Sequel to U.S. distracted driving summit
July 28, 2010 by 2 Comments
Citing a "powerful momentum" from last year's national summit on distracted driving, the Department of Transportation plans a sequel for Sept. 21. DOT chief Ray LaHood sent out the call to transportation officials, safety advocates, law enforcement, mobile phone and auto industry reps, safety researchers, and those whose lives have been shattered by distracted drivers. The event will be in Washington, D.C. LaHood, who has seen his personal brand soar with his campaigning on the distracted driving issue, says a new national summit is needed: "We've learned a lot in the past year, but there … [Read more...]
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