Tough laws and enforcement urged for distracted driving

[NINETY EIGHT REGENCY]

Tough laws and enforcement urged for distracted driving

Personal responsibility sought by U.S.

BY KEN THOMAS

ASSOCIATED PRESS

WASHINGTON -- Making sure drivers keep their eyes on the road will require a network of tough laws, enforcement by police and personal responsibility, the government said Tuesday.

Obama administration officials said during a second summit on distracted driving that it had made progress in pushing states to target drivers who send text messages and use mobile devices from the road, but too many people are being killed because of inattentive motorists.

"Every time someone takes their focus off the road -- even if it's just for a moment -- they put their lives and the lives of others in danger," said Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.

Thirty states and the District of Columbia prohibit drivers from texting behind the wheel; eight states have passed laws barring drivers from using handheld cell phones. Nearly 5,500 people were killed last year in distracted-driving crashes.

The summit brought together government leaders, safety advocates, family members of victims and business groups to discuss ways of reducing distracted driving.

"Our lives have been changed forever. In place of joy and laughter, there is sorrow and tears," said Russell Hurd, of Abingdon, Md.

Hurd's daughter, Heather, was killed in January 2008 when a tractor-trailer plowed into nine vehicles at a traffic light in Orlando. Heather Hurd and her fiancé were driving to meet their wedding planner at Walt Disney World.

LaHood suggested the technology industry could place warning labels -- "the way we put warning labels on cigarettes" -- on the boxes of mobile phones urging consumers not to use the devices while driving.

The Transportation secretary noted that automakers were adding in-vehicle technology that allows drivers to update their Facebook page, surf the Internet "or do any number of other things instead of driving safely."

"Features that pull drivers' hands, eyes and attention away from the road are distractions," said LaHood. He told reporters the technology could create a "cognitive distraction" and he would meet with auto companies to develop new safety guidelines for technology in vehicles.

Ford has marketed its in-car entertainment and communication service, known as Sync, and General Motors recently announced plans to give its OnStar safety system better voice recognition so drivers could verbally connect with the Internet.

Automakers have said voice-activated systems are safer for drivers than trying to manipulate applications on their mobile devices.

Wade Newton, a spokesman for the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, said making driving safer will mean balancing "the fact that we know drivers will do certain things while driving and how technology can make it safer."

The Transportation Department also proposed barring truck drivers from sending text messages while hauling hazardous materials.

Read more: Tough laws and enforcement urged for distracted driving | freep.com | Detroit Free Press http://www.freep.com/article/20100922/BUSINESS01/9220316/1210/business01/Tough-laws-and-enforcement-urged-for-distracted-driving#ixzz10GNGy9zv