Early critics were amazed to find DOT chief Ray LaHood campaigning, fiercely, against drivers' use of distracting electronic devices such as cell phones. He took it as a compliment. "Am I on a rampage?" LaHood said in the early years of his term. "Yes, I am, and why shouldn't I be?" Politicians and bureaucrats don't talk that way, but LaHood did. He cited a rising national death toll as drivers increasingly talked & texted their way down our streets and highways. Who can say how many lives (many of them young) were saved as LaHood used the DOT's bully pulpit in his campaign against … [Read more...]
DOT chief LaHood leaving post
January 29, 2013 by 3 Comments
Distracted driving fighter Ray LaHood is stepping down as secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation. LaHood, a Republican, made the announcement in a memo to staffers Jan. 29, saying he would stay on until a successor is named. LaHood detailed a string of DOT achievements during his tenure, beginning with the efforts to curtail distracted driving: "We have put safety front and center with the Distracted Driving Initiative." In the memo to DOT staffers, LaHood wrote: "I've told President Obama, and I've told many of you, that this is the best job I've ever had." The president, also … [Read more...]
In Florida, more texting law drama
November 16, 2012 by 1 Comment
Florida supporters of a text-messaging law head into the new legislative session with hopes for change in the capital city of Tallahassee, but early signals are mixed. A four-time sponsor of texting legislation says "some of my major stumbling blocks" have left the Legislature. But the incoming speaker of the House, Will Weatherford (left), issued a statement this week that appears to support the "individual rights" of drivers to text message. The Republican leader's comments came as the first Florida Distracted Driving Summit brought to Tampa more than 270 government officials, safety … [Read more...]
The wrath of LaHood: a good honking
February 28, 2012 by 5 Comments
DOT chief Ray LaHood must be able to summon the hounds of hell when he encounters cell phoning drivers breaking the law in Washington, D.C., right? Nah. "What I've been doing is kind of honking at somebody if I see him on a cellphone," LaHood told WROP radio the other day. He calls drivers who use cell phones or text "my biggest source of irritation." LaHood told the radio station it was his way of "taking personal responsibility" in the war against electronic distracted driving. Never mind that vehicle horns should be reserved for alerting others to roadway danger, not telling off fellow … [Read more...]
Distracted driving year in review
December 28, 2011 by Leave a Comment
The debate over distracted driving burned hotter than ever as 2011 ended, thanks to a controversial call for a total ban of cell phone use while behind the wheel. The year saw significant progress in the legislative war on against distracted driving. While some state laws prohibiting use of handheld cell phones took effect, most of the success came with bans of text messaging while driving. Here's a recap of the big distracted driving stories of 2011: New year, new laws (Jan. 1-2): Three states — Delaware, Kentucky and Kansas — see their new distracted driving laws take full effect as 2011 … [Read more...]
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