Obama Bans Federal Employees from Texting While Driving

President Obama has signed an executive order banning federal employees from texting while driving government vehicles or using government-issued cell phones.

Source: Source: New York Times | Published on October 2, 2009

In addition, the federal government plans to ban text messaging by bus drivers and truckers who travel across state lines and is considering whether to ban them from using cell phones except in emergencies, according to the New York Times.

The measures were announced by Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood during a summit on distracted driving in Washington, D.C.. The two-day summit was convened to discuss the problem with technology-created distractions such as cell phones and Blackberries and their increasing association with fatal crashes. Speakers included a range of stakeholders, including transportation officials, safety advocates, law enforcement, wireless industry representatives, researchers and members of Congress.e.