Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announces a new national strategy for ending "distracted driving." He speaks to reporters about the project at the department's headquarters in Washington, DC.
According to the Secretary, "distracted driving is an epidemic on America's roadways." In a press release, Sec. LaHood states that some 3,092 people were killed, and around 416,000 were injured in 2010 by distracted drivers.
Secretary LaHood has had his eye of limiting cell phone use and texting by drivers since 2010, when he hosted national forums on distracted driving.
Some reporters following Sec. LaHood's distracted driver plans claim that he is in favor of a complete federal ban on the use of mobile phones in cars, including "hands-free" devices. This is the position of National Transportation Safety Board Chair Deborah Hersman.
While Sec. LaHood to date has not called for a ban on mobile devices in cars, DoT recently issued guidelines on in-vehicle electronic devices for automobile manufacturers. They recommend that drivers should not be distracted for more than two seconds and that drivers should be completely stopped before using navigational devices or engaging in social networking sites.