U.S. DOT Says It Will Announce 'Concrete Actions' Against Distracted Driving at Next Week's Summit

Group files petition to prohibit or restrict the use of "unsafe electronic devices" by drivers of commercial vehicles

By Lisa J. Hudson

In anticipation of next week's federal summit on distracted driving, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood is expected to announce what the department calls "concrete actions" on issue. Today, a report from National Public Radio outlines the issues surrounding the two-day summit, which will be held September 30 and October 1. You can download the agenda.

The NPR report also discusses a press conference call held on Sept. 24 by the Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety. The group, which is funded by the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America, filed a petition with the U.S. DOT calling on the FMCSA to implement a rulemaking that would prohibit or restrict the use of "unsafe" electronic devices by drivers of commercial vehicles, such as tractor-trailers, motorcoach buses, and large vans.

The group's conference call included a statement by Elissa and Jamie Schee of Ocala, Fla., whose daughter Frances “Margay” Schee, age 13, was killed last year when a tractor trailer rammed into the back of a stopped school bus with lights flashing, resulting in the vehicles catching fire. Margay died in the resulting fire. The truck driver’s cell phone use was determined by authorities to be a contributing factor in the fatal crash. The Schee's participation in the call coincided with the one year anniversary of Margay's death on Sept. 23, 2008.

Is the Hands-Free-Only Law Reducing Hands-Free Use

Food for thought. Tom Vanderbilt at How We Drive brings up an interesting phenomenon. Since California has passed a ban on the use of hand-held phones while driving, use of both hands-held and hands-free phones has declined. A colleague hypothesizes two things are happening:

One, the publicity about the law has raised awareness in general about the risks of talking on a phone — hand-held or not — while driving (and this trend shall pass); or two, that people have not fully understood the law, and may be confusing one form of phone with the other (I admit to sometimes taking a moment to comprehend what the ungainly term ‘hand-free phone’ actually signifies). A third possible idea is that people may somehow feel police will be looking more carefully at all drivers on a phone, regardless of whether it’s legal or not. Or perhaps there’s some other unknown factor at work. Or perhaps the sample size is simply not large enough; perhaps more people than ever are driving and talking.

This should give us an opportunity to look at our own attitudes towards onboard devices, regulation and safe driving behavior.