LaHood Cites ‘Urgency’ for Texting Ban

WASHINGTON — Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said the department was working to complete its work on a regulation to ban texting by commercial drivers, and that it would be finished “sooner rather than later.”

“We feel a great sense of urgency about this,” LaHood said. “We’ve met with some of the industry people about, but I can’t really give you a time, sooner rather than later is probably the best answer,

“We just feel that this is something we really need to do . . . it is a big issue and its not just texting while driving in cars, it has to do with all of these activities that take place in trucks and bus drivers and train drivers.”

Earlier this fall LaHood convened a summit on distracted driving where he announced that he was ordering the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to issue rules banning texting by truck and bus drivers, and limit the use of cell phones and other communication devices as well.

By Sean McNally
Senior Reporter