President Obama Signs Executive Order Banning Federal Employees from Texting While Driving
EmailABC News has learned that President Obama signed an executive order last night banning federal employees from text-messaging while on government business, driving government vehicles or using government equipment. The executive order also directs executive departments and agencies to encourage contractors and contractor employees to adopt and enforce policies to ban texting while driving on official government business.
Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood will announce the executive order in his closing remarks later today wrapping up the two-day Distracted Driving Summit. "This order sends a very clear signal to the American public that distracted driving is dangerous and unacceptable," LaHood will say.
LaHood will also outline some wider concrete actions to combat what he called the "epidemic of distracted driving."
"To put it plainly, distracted driving is a menace to society," LaHood said at the opening of the summit yesterday.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that last year 15% of driver deaths in the US — 5,870 people — were as a result of distracted driving. It's unclear how many of those incidents were related to texting while driving, though the phenomenon is considered to be growing and serious. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety says that drivers that use handheld devices are four times more likely to get into crashes serious enough to injure themselves.
Legislation being considered on the Hill would withhold 25 percent of federal highway dollars from states that fail to ban texting while driving. Currently, Washington, DC, and eighteen states ban hand-held texting by drivers.
-jpt
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We are all children waiting for the State to tell us what to do.
This is so stupid and just demonstrates once more how politicians and bureaucracies keep overreaching.
Next they’ll ban all federal employees from chewing gum in class.
Posted by: Aaron | October 1, 2009, 12:12 pm 12:12 pm
How about consumption of fast food while driving?
Burgers OK, tacos are not. French fries OK, nachos are not. Dilly-bars Ok, soft-serve is not.
Posted by: tjp612 | October 1, 2009, 12:16 pm 12:16 pm
BUT.. its ok with Obama that Americans are being killed every day in Afganistan by Iranian made IED’s…. What a “no-SHOW” of leadership and concern on his part
SPEAK UP JAKE!!!
Posted by: Obama, Prince of presidential clowns | October 1, 2009, 12:16 pm 12:16 pm
What is the material difference between dialing a number on a cell and texting?
Posted by: deanbob | October 1, 2009, 12:23 pm 12:23 pm
Too bad he didn’t ban talking on the cell phone, while driving, as well.
Not to mention all the other stupid things people do, behind the wheel, to include applying mascara.
Posted by: Rick McDaniel | October 1, 2009, 12:27 pm 12:27 pm
I guess it gives LaHood something to do. I would bet that most large private employers have already implemented a similar ban (along with no cellphone use while driving) simply out of concern of the lawsuits if one of their trucks roll over a kid when the driver is checking his phone. This is basic liability management 101, and if it had not already been implemented further down the org chart that’s kinda embarrassing. (Although maybe Obama wanted to give LaHood a quick headline to start a larger educational push.)
Posted by: jhw539 | October 1, 2009, 12:28 pm 12:28 pm
“…on government business.”
Isn’t that a little vague?
Does that mean the President just signed away the right to carry his Blackberry?
Posted by: Ike | October 1, 2009, 12:32 pm 12:32 pm
If the people are intelligent enough to hold such a position, don’t you think they’d know texting while driving is dangerous? nah, they probably think they’re above it.
Posted by: really? | October 1, 2009, 12:40 pm 12:40 pm
“text-messaging while on government business, driving government vehicles or using government equipment.” So Obama, his co-horts, or his czars cannot text whilst riding in AirForce1, using a government computer, working in a government office, staying at a government paid for hotel room, or while being chauffered to a global “warming” conference? They cannot text while “using government equipment” or while “on government business”? That is pretty crazy….
Posted by: Ed | October 1, 2009, 12:45 pm 12:45 pm
Oh yeah…the government employees are the ones causing all the problems. Nice job.
The fact of the matter is that when you’re operating any type of machine that can potentially kill someone, you need to keep your mind on what you’re doing. If your texting or talking on the phone, your mind is on clearly on something else.
There’s already a law for this. It’s called “Time and Attention.” Failure to devote full time and attention to driving is punishable with a fine. Maybe instead of creating new laws, we should just enforce the ones we already have.
Posted by: Hosfac | October 1, 2009, 12:49 pm 12:49 pm
“They cannot text while “using government equipment” or while “on government business”? That is pretty crazy….”
Ed | Oct 1, 2009 12:45:27 PM
Or if you understand English, you would note that Jake was paraphrasing and probably assume that the actual Executive Order is more detailed (most likely by providing wide latitude for the details of the policy to be established at a lower level)?
Just maybe?
Posted by: jhw539 | October 1, 2009, 12:52 pm 12:52 pm
“Maybe instead of creating new laws, we should just enforce the ones we already have.”
Hosfac | Oct 1, 2009 12:49:38 PM
??? No law was created, the president just documented the Executive Branch policy (just like IBM, Dupont, Intel, etc. have similar guidelines). What are you talking about?
Posted by: jhw539 | October 1, 2009, 12:54 pm 12:54 pm
Obama should talk and fire my boss! I work in the federal government and I had a huge argument with my boss. She complained that I did not send her the email that she needed thru my blackberry. To me, this is my biggest pet peeve: drivers and their cellphones. I indignantly responded, “I’m not going to risk my life for that.” Obama, just let me know if you want her contact info.
Posted by: linney | October 1, 2009, 1:00 pm 1:00 pm
Executive Order ~ very scary ~ and good luck.
I cannot count how many drivers I have seen STILL TALKING ON THEIR CELL PHONES because this “law” is NOT ENFORCED.
Posted by: Sue | October 1, 2009, 1:02 pm 1:02 pm
Drinking (a soda) while listening to the radio MUST be banned! And those pesky passengers who want to talk to you surely can be a distraction.
Posted by: s | October 1, 2009, 1:07 pm 1:07 pm
Use of cell phones while driving is already banned on all Military bases.
Posted by: carl | October 1, 2009, 1:09 pm 1:09 pm
Who could have a problem with a driving safety initiative?
The federal government should show example.
…the base conservative bone-heads will come up with any excuse to insult and undercut the Presidency.
Posted by: gus amaral | October 1, 2009, 1:15 pm 1:15 pm
Easy common sense rule to apply to federal employees. Nothing wrong with holding them to a higher standard of safety.
Posted by: carl | October 1, 2009, 1:22 pm 1:22 pm
WASHINGTON – Unemployment rates rose in all cities across the United States in August from a year earlier, with 16 recording jobless rates of 15 percent or higher, according to the Labor Department. At the same time, only 11 metropolitan areas said they had gained jobs in August, while 356 had lost positions. For the eighth consecutive month, all 372 cities that the department surveys had year-on-year increases in jobless rates.
Posted by: Fascist Hyena | October 1, 2009, 1:26 pm 1:26 pm
Too bad all Americans can’t get the federal employee health benefit plans. Or their pensions.
Posted by: Fascist Hyena | October 1, 2009, 1:27 pm 1:27 pm
Of Course Rush the Lush Limblah and his right wing Lunatics will see something wrong with this as well. He’s infringing on our Rights to kill ourselves! How dare he! LOL
Posted by: RealAmerican | October 1, 2009, 2:04 pm 2:04 pm
Here’s the main difference between Bush and his Big Business first administration and Obamas People first administration. Bush would never have passed such a restriction because it would’ve been bad for the Cell Phone Business, not caring that people are killing themselves and others daily while texting and driving. Republicans will always be the party of Business.. and they’ll always have their right wing Jesus freaks following them blindly.
Posted by: RealAmerican | October 1, 2009, 2:09 pm 2:09 pm
Oh, so it was OK to Kill 100′s of thousands of innocent Iraqee Men,Women and Children with this illegal war based on Republican lies? under Bushes watch but now you’re concerned about the soldiers killed in Afghanistan under Obamas watch? Well atleast when Cheney was told of the 4000 dead kids killed in Iraq he was compasionit enough to say “SO”
Posted by: RealAmerican | October 1, 2009, 2:12 pm 2:12 pm
For one both are bad, you shouldn’t be dialing while driving, secondly texting takes a lot more key strokes and interaction then dialing nine digits or one speed dial.
Posted by: RealAmerican | October 1, 2009, 2:14 pm 2:14 pm
In CA, you need a “hands free” device. Now, I realize many in the US and CA are, I’ll say educationally challenged, but if the law states “hands free” I would expect texting would be included. Otherwise, you are telling me our government passed a cell phone law that I can’t hold it to my ear, but I can type all day long and it’s not illegal? That makes perfect sense.
Posted by: lfrichar | October 1, 2009, 2:21 pm 2:21 pm
RealAmerican —- How is it we pass a law outlawing texting and you mention Bush, Iraq, dead women and children, Cheney, lies and favoring big business? You do realize under Bush, in many states you are required by law to have and use a ‘hands free” device. You may be challenged, but would that not include texting? I think you normally use your fingers (part of your hand) for texting. Your hatred and partisanship is showing.
Posted by: lfrichar | October 1, 2009, 2:25 pm 2:25 pm
“Republicans will always be the party of Business”
I keep this handy as it seems I have to re-post everyday.
Selected top contributors to Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign:
2.) Goldman Sachs $994,795
4.) Microsoft Corp $833,617
5.) Google Inc $803,436
6.) Citigroup Inc $701,290
7.) JPMorgan Chase & Co $695,132
8.) Time Warner $590,084
11.) National Amusements Inc $551,683
12.) UBS AG $543,219
15.) IBM Corp $528,822
17.) Morgan Stanley $514,881
18.) General Electric $499,130
The majority of those entities not listed are universities (Univ. of Cal. #1) and law firms.
McCain’s TOP contributor was Merrill Lynch at $373,595).
So tell us again who is the party of big business?
Posted by: tjp612 | October 1, 2009, 2:35 pm 2:35 pm
I can gurantee you that they donated 10 times that amount to the Republican Campaigns. They were just hedging their bets. Wonder why Bush wrote Wall Street that $700Billion Dollar check with no strings attached on his way out the door?
Posted by: RealAmerican | October 1, 2009, 2:47 pm 2:47 pm
” Bush would never have passed such a restriction because it would’ve been bad for the Cell Phone Business…”
Right. Now that Obama has done it we can expect cell phone company revenues to drop dramatically.
Posted by: Fascist Hyena | October 1, 2009, 2:48 pm 2:48 pm
Thanks Mr. President. People are being killed and crippled by these irresponsible acts……this is Not a Teen problem,,,,, I see Grown Fools doing this everyday, all day.
Posted by: sara | October 1, 2009, 2:51 pm 2:51 pm
“”"”"Bush wrote Wall Street that $700Billion Dollar check with no strings attached on his way out the door?”"”"”
Posted by: RealAmerican
And Bush gave Obama the option to release the second $350 billion. How quickly you forget. Obama didn’t think that was enough so he passed “porkulus”. Your partisanship is still showing. Both sides deserve credit and criticism.
Posted by: lfrichar | October 1, 2009, 2:57 pm 2:57 pm
“I can gurantee you that they donated 10 times that amount to the Republican Campaigns.”
No you can’t, because they didn’t. Facts can be unpleasant things. Perhaps you should consider them, and re-evaluate your entire premise.
Posted by: Fascist Hyena | October 1, 2009, 3:07 pm 3:07 pm
Bottomline is Bush got Caught with his hand in the Cookie jar writing Wallstreet a $700 Billion dollar check with no strings attaached. Kind of a thank you for all Wall Street had done for Bush.. LOL.. Republicans aren’t the party of Big Business! ROFLM-Liberal-AO next you’ll be telling us Cheney wasn’t a draft Dodger and Bush avoided real WAR by staying home learning to Fly Planes at tax Payers expense.
Posted by: RealAmerican | October 1, 2009, 3:16 pm 3:16 pm
Bush will go down in history as the worst president in recorded history. As the President who caused this Country the most damage due to his incompetance. and luckily he’ll always be seen as the leader of the Conservative Right Wing Lunatics.
Posted by: RealAmerican | October 1, 2009, 3:18 pm 3:18 pm
“I keep this handy as it seems I have to re-post everyday.”
Of course. The key to right wing lies is to repeat them.
“Selected top contributors to Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign:”
One problem with your presentation of the list is that those are individuals who listed those companies as their employer, not the companies themselves.
“So tell us again who is the party of big business?”
The party that whined about focus on AIG’s profits.
The party that wants taxes and regulation of business eliminated.
The party that wants to gut environmental regulations.
That would be the Republican party.
Posted by: Ryan C | October 1, 2009, 3:19 pm 3:19 pm
Let me guess first Czar or other bud of Obama snagged texting while driving will be exempt according to Obama?
Posted by: PotatoeGater22 | October 1, 2009, 3:22 pm 3:22 pm
Lol, bush did what? Congress including Obama wrote the bankers $700 billion, for which Obama has changed Bush’s rule and is now keeping the money instead of paying taxpayers back. Bush bad, Bernake a crook, Obama is far far worse.
Posted by: PotatoeGater22 | October 1, 2009, 3:25 pm 3:25 pm
Bots, need I explain why Goldman sacks donated to Obama. You see Goldman sacks made billions off the Aig thing, and are Bernakes real employers. Goldman sacks own both Bernake and Obama.
Posted by: PotatoeGater22 | October 1, 2009, 3:27 pm 3:27 pm
Fascist hyena…you speak the truth, but considering who you direct it toward, I doubt they will understand.
Posted by: Angus | October 1, 2009, 3:54 pm 3:54 pm
Hmm..Bush the worst….do we conveniently forget the Great Jimmy Carter? No wait..he’s a Democrat, so he must be wonderful..silly me.
Posted by: angus | October 1, 2009, 4:06 pm 4:06 pm
“The party that wants taxes and regulation of business eliminated.
The party that wants to gut environmental regulations.”
Utter nonsense. A goofball fantasy party that doesn’t exist, although the GOP does generally stand for a reduction in the corporate tax rate, which is second only to Japan in the industrialized world. The goofball thinks corporations are simply pots of money for use by the government. The party of mature adults knows that taxes levied on corporations are paid by consumers, shareholders and workers, and that they inhibit economic growth.
If you want to see the future of America under Obamanomics, you have only to look to California.
Posted by: Fascist Hyena | October 1, 2009, 6:20 pm 6:20 pm
Great idea…now try to enforce it. Might as well have an executive order making it illegal to be a knucklehead.
Posted by: Joe | October 2, 2009, 6:37 am 6:37 am
Legislation being considered on the Hill would withhold 25 percent of federal highway dollars from states that fail to ban texting while driving.”
Gee, banning texting is a great idea? Why doesn’t the Fed Gov’t butt the hell out and let the States make their own decisions regarding its banning? Or maybe they could stop taxing us for Highway funds and let the States tax us for the money instead.
Posted by: JimintheLou | October 3, 2009, 10:05 am 10:05 am
whew, this got a bit intense didn’t it? Fact is, who’s president and what the law says or doesn’t.. we should all use, the long forgotten, common sense and not text while driving. Good grief people, its a safety thing, just don’t do it. period.
Posted by: Safety signs | October 5, 2009, 4:51 pm 4:51 pm
This executive order was a bad idea! Read it. It practically bans all driving for federal workers:
It bans reading from any electronic device, or engaging in any electronic data retrieval while driving. Wow! You can’t look at the clock or the speedometer. Think this goes too far? Nope. It specifically lists “obtaining navigational information” as the type of thing that is banned. Uh, traffic signals and brake lights are electronic devices too. This list goes on. What a bad move by President Obama.
Posted by: Fulano | October 10, 2009, 11:08 am 11:08 am