NewUsed

Find by category:

Exhaust Notes

Distracted-Driving Legislation Gets a Push

States that enact laws will get $17.5 million in grant money from NHTSA.

By Claire_Martin Aug 27, 2012 10:17AM
Distracted driving is clearly taking a toll: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that 3,092 people were killed and 416,000 were injured in 2010 in distraction-related accidents, including ones involving texting and other cell-phone use. To help stem the problem, NHTSA has instituted a new grant program that will bestow $17.5 million on states with laws against distracted driving.

No federal law prohibits distracted driving, but as we've reported, several states already have such legislation in place. Ten states and Washington, D.C., prohibit all handheld cell-phone use; of those, nine allow police officers to stop drivers without any other traffic offense taking place. Thirty-nine states and D.C. ban text messaging while driving; all but four of those consider it a primary offense, not requiring another traffic infraction for enforcement.

The new grant program rewards states that make distracted driving a primary offense. It comes on the heels of another anti-distracted-driv​ing initiative the Transportation Department announced in June, the Blueprint for Ending Distracted Driving. This plan encourages the 11 states that have no distracted-driving legislation to pass laws, encourages the auto industry to develop safety guidelines for in-car technology and provides driver-education teachers with new curriculum to incorporate into their lessons. 

The incentives for addressing the problem are significant, and for good reason: According to the Transportation Department website dedicated to distracted driving, you're 23 times more likely to get into an accident if you text while driving. 

< Back to Exhaust Notes
User Picture
Write a comment...
1Comment
Peter Ohlweiler
Oct 9, 2012 3:58AM
avatar
Through the BMW Car Club of America Foundation club Chapters , located within each State , in conjunction with the Tire Rack Corporation have been sponsoring " Street Survival School " programs . These School's are set up by the individual Chapter's to provide driver training program's the teach student's between the age's of 15 1/2 to 21 defensive and awareness skills that are not learned in most driver education program's . The Tire Rack Street Survival provides trained and qualified in-car driving instructors as well as classroom experience for every student . Hands On educational driving experience in real world situations teaching teens car safty and car control in their or family owned vehicles . Challenging driving situations , including skid control and emergency lane change on private courses allowing students to experience abnormal vehicle behavior in a safe and supervised environment . Please visit the streetsurvival.org web- site  for more information . Peter Ohlweiler VP Green Mountain Chapter BMWCCA
Report
Please help us to maintain a healthy and vibrant community by reporting any illegal or inappropriate behavior. If you believe a message violates theCode of Conductplease use this form to notify the moderators. They will investigate your report and take appropriate action. If necessary, they report all illegal activity to the proper authorities.
Categories
100 character limit
Are you sure you want to delete this comment?

EXPLORE NEW CARS

MORE ON MSN AUTOS

Chrysler relents, recalls 2.7M JeepsChrysler relents, recalls 2.7M Jeeps

Automaker recalls 2 Jeep models for fire hazards, but says they’re safe.

MSN Money

ABOUT EXHAUST NOTES

Cars are cool, and here at MSN Autos we love everything about them, but we also know they're more than simply speed and style: a car is an essential tool, a much-needed accessory to help you get through your day-to-day life. What you drive is also one of the most important investments you can make, so we'll help you navigate your way through the car buying and ownership experiences. We strive to be your daily destination for news, notes, tips and tricks from across the automotive world. So whether it's through original content from our world-class journalists or the latest buzz from the far corners of the Web, Exhaust Notes helps you make sense of your automotive world.

Have a story idea? Tip us off at exhaustnotes@live.com.