All Federal Workers Barred From Texting While Driving

12/30/2009

The federal government is showing the nation how serious it is about fighting distracted driving with a new order that will bar all of its employees from texting behind the wheel.

According to the Transportation Department, the order applies to about 4 million federal workers when they are using government-owned vehicles or communications devices. To accompany this policy change, the government is also unveiling a new public service announcement and website, Distraction.gov.

"Every time we climb into the driver’s seat, we all have a responsibility for keeping our roads safe by putting away cell phones and other distractions. I am proud that the federal government is leading by example, and encourage others to think about how they can set a safety example in their communities," said Secretary Ray LaHood.

Earlier this year, the Transportation Department presided over a summit aimed at creating new solutions against distracted driving. Some organizations, including AAA, are also working to convince all 50 states to ban the practice, or for a nationwide federal ban to be passed.

Research has found that people who text behind the wheel are far more likely than others to be involved in a serious crashes, while cell phone use is also a major contributor to accidents. By avoiding distracted driving, people may be saving themselves considerable increases in their auto insurance premiums while potentially saving lives.

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