The Obama administration announced that it is seeking to ban text messaging and restrict cell phone use by interstate truck drivers, bus drivers, and rail operators. The move comes as a result of a growing body of research demonstrating the dangers of distracted driving. The administration will push states to follow with similar legislation banning texting by citizens driving cars as well.
Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood announced that President Obama made the first step by signing an executive order banning all federal workers from texting while driving on government business, driving government vehicles, or using government equipment.
Another goal of the initiative is to revoke the commercial driver's licenses of school bus drivers who are convicted of texting while driving. Nearly 6,000 deaths and over 500,000 were injured last year in crashes due to distracted driving, mostly by cell phone users. The proposed legislation would push states to implement similar laws by cutting 25% of highway funding to non-compliant states.
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