Government Seeks Ban To Prevent Interstate Bus Drivers & Truckers From Texting

AAA recently declareda goal to ban texting while driving. The automobile club is not alone. Yesterday,the Obama administration said it would seek to ban text messaging by interstatebus drivers and truckers and would encourage states to pass their own lawsagainst driving cars while distracted. According to Transportation SecretaryRay LaHood, the administration also plans to put restrictions on cell phone useby rail operators, truck drivers, and interstate bus drivers.

"Driving while distracted should just feel wrong — justas driving without a seat belt or driving while intoxicated," LaHood saidat the end of a two-day conference on the problem. "We're not going tobreak everyone of their bad habits — but we are going to raise awareness andsharpen the consequences."

LaHood said President Barack Obama signed an executive orderon Wednesday that will ban all federal workers from texting while driving ongovernment business, driving government vehicles, or using government equipment.The administration will also work to disqualify school bus drivers from keepingtheir commercial driver's licenses if they are convicted of texting whiledriving.


There's currently legislation in congress pushed by Sen.Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., that would require states to ban texting or e-mailingwhile operating a moving vehicle or lose 25% of their annual federal highwayfunding. While LaHood declined to endorse Schumer's bill, he did say that theadministration would work with Congress.

To date, 18 states and the District of Columbia have passedlaws that make texting while driving illegal. Seven states and the District ofColumbia have banned driving while talking on a handheld cell phone.