WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation held a full committee hearing today on Combating Distracted Driving: Managing Behavioral and Technological Risks.

 

 

The Honorable Ray LaHood, Secretary, U.S. Department of Transportation

 

The Honorable Julius Genachowski, Chairman, Federal Communications Commission

 

“Cars and trucks with a distracted driver are deadly weapons and we have a responsibility to get them off the road.  Several states already have taken action. But not enough states have done the right thing.  To truly make our roads safer, we need to think bigger, more comprehensive.  We should not have to mourn the tragic loss of any more precious lives needlessly cut short.  It is time to bring a new sense of safety and shared responsibility to our roads.”

“Transportation safety is the Department’s highest priority.  Distracted driving is a dangerous practice that has become a deadly epidemic.  Our research shows that unless we take action now, the problem is only going to get worse, especially among our nation’s youngest drivers.  This trend distresses me deeply, and I am personally committed to reducing the number of injuries and fatalities caused by distracted driving.”

“Distracted driving endangers life and property and the current levels of injury and loss are unacceptable.  There’s no way around it – this is an urgent problem that simply must be addressed.  I do not believe there is a single solution to this challenge.  The responsibility lies with all of us – individuals, companies in the wireless space, as well as government.  Everyone involved can and should take appropriate action, with the goal of dramatically reducing and ultimately eliminating the risk of distracted driving due to the use of communications devices.”

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