Safety & Accident

ARLINGTON, VA - As more state legislatures across the U.S. enact laws that ban phoning and texting while driving, a new Highway Loss Data Institute study has found no reductions in crashes after hand-held phone bans take effect.

Tags: driver safety, Highway Loss Data Institute , IIHS, texting while driving

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- U.S. Transportation Sec. Ray LaHood announced federal guidance to prohibit texting by drivers of commercial vehicles such as large trucks and buses.

Tags: Department of Transportation, distracted driving, Ray LaHood , texting while driving

WASHINGTON, D.C. --- The National Safety Council estimates that at least 28 percent of all traffic crashes -- or at least 1.6 million crashes each year -- are caused by drivers using cell phones and texting.

Tags: cell phone, distraction, driver texting, NSC, texting while driving

AUBURN HILLS, MI - Effectively immediately, all Chrysler Group employees are prohibited from texting while driving in company-owned vehicles and texting with company-provided communication devices while driving personal vehicles.

Tags: Chrysler Group LLC, company policy, driver safety, DWT, texting while driving

HARRISBURG, PA --- The Pennsylvania House Transportation Committee on Tuesday, Nov. 10, unanimously approved state legislation that would ban texting behind the wheel.

Tags: distraction, texting while driving

PROVIDENCE, RI --- Rhode Island Gov. Donald L. Carcieri has signed into law a bill banning texting while driving, making the state the 19th to implement such a ban.

Tags: distraction, texting while driving

WASHINGTON, D.C. --- Sen. John D. Rockefeller IV (D-WV), the chairman of the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, has written a bill that would give federal funds to states that enact laws banning driving while texting or talking on a hand-held device.

Tags: cell phone, distraction, texting while driving

NEW YORK --- U.S. Sen. Charles E. Schumer has released a new report estimating that nearly 100 teenagers were killed in the New York City area in just the past five years in accidents where the driver was found to be texting while driving.

Tags: Charles E. Schumer , distraction, texting while driving

WASHINGTON, D.C. --- AAA announced that the motor club plans to work to pass laws banning text messaging by drivers in all 50 states by 2013.

Tags: AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety , AAA lobbying efforts, distraction, Robert L. Darbelnet, texting while driving

CONCORD, N.H. --- New Hampshire Gov. John Lynch on July 31 signed into law a bill making New Hampshire the 15th state to ban text messaging while driving.

Tags: distraction, Gov. John Lynch , New Hampshire texting ban, texting while driving

WASHINGTON, D.C. --- U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood this week announced plans to hold a national summit in late September to study texting while driving and other driver behaviors that take attention off the road.

Tags: Dept. of Transportation, driver distractions summit, Ray LaHood , texting while driving

BOSTON – AMEC, a global engineering firm, is one of several companies that has benefited from increasing policies on employee cell phone usage while driving on company time, according to the Boston Globe.

Tags: AMEC, cell phone ban, driving behavior, driving policies, texting while driving

PHILADELPHIA – First-time offenders would be charged a $150 fine and $300 for second offenses, according to the Philadelphia Business Journal.

Tags: bill, cell phone ban, legislation, Philadelphia, texting ban, texting while driving

NASHVILLE, TN – Once signed by the governor, the ban would go into effect July 1, according to the Memphis Commercial Appeal.

Tags: law, Tennessee, texting ban, texting while driving

LOS ANGELES – Effective Jan. 1, it is illegal to compose, send, and read a text, instant message, or e-mail, as well as browse the Web from any mobile device while operating a motorized vehicle in California.

Tags: Ban, California law, distraction, hands-free, legislation, texting while driving

CHICAGO – A Chicago City Council committee unanimously passed a proposed ban on sending text messages while driving in Chicago, according to the Chicago Tribune.

Tags: Chicago City Council, proposed ban, texting while driving

SACRAMENTO, CA --- California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has signed legislation that prohibits all drivers in the state from using text messaging devices while they drive.

Tags: texting while driving