Hearing Of The Subcommittee On Highways And Transit Of The House Committee On Transportation And Infrastructure- "Addressing The Problem Of Distracted Driving"

Statement

Hearing Of The Subcommittee On Highways And Transit Of The House Committee On Transportation And Infrastructure- "Addressing The Problem Of Distracted Driving"

Thank you Chairman Peter DeFazio and members of the Subcommittee for
holding this hearing and inviting me to testify.

I commend the Chairman and the members for recognizing the importance
of distracted driving in our nation.

Much like the Department of Transportation's recent Distracted Driving
Summit, hearings such as this serve as great opportunities to vet plausible
and effective solutions to this growing problem.

I commend Secretary LaHood for his work in organizing that successful
summit.

Similarly, I commend President Obama, who, in signing an executive order,
effectively banned all Federal employees from texting behind the wheel.

Both initiatives represent important steps toward cultivating safety on our
nation's roadways, but fall short of applying these safety precautions to each
and every American driver.

This brings me to why I am here today…

The dangers of distracted driving are not limited to Federal employees.

It is a problem that some studies, including one conducted by Virginia Tech
University, say can lead to one being 23 times more likely to get into an
accident.

With "smart" devices that provide access to e-mail, text messaging, the
Internet and more, individuals are becoming increasingly reliant upon
mobile technology in their everyday lives.

Unfortunately, as these devices continue to evolve and become more
affordable, their inappropriate and unsafe use continues to grow as well.

Almost as rapidly as these devices have developed, so too has hands-free
and voice-activated technologies, each of which is designed to give
individuals increased mobility and attentiveness while communicating.

We, as Members of Congress, should seek out ways in which to encourage
the use of these technologies in an effort to lower risk throughout our
transportation system.

Recent surveys suggest large majorities, regardless of political affiliation,
believe irresponsible use of handhelds behind the wheel should be illegal.

Most recently, a New York Times/CBS News Poll indicated that 90% of
Adults agree that sending a text message while driving should be illegal.

Our goal should be to facilitate effective changes that keep more drivers'
hands on the wheel and eyes on the road.

H.R. 3535, the ALERT Drivers Act, which I was proud to introduce with my
colleague Rep. Nita Lowey, I believe, represents a strong first-step toward
combating preventable roadway accidents.

My bill directs the Secretary of Transportation to establish minimum texting
while driving standards of protection that state legislatures must meet, while
also allowing states to establish stricter standards as they see fit.

And much like the laws that established the legal age to consume alcohol
and blood alcohol concentration limits for drivers, the bill would withhold a
percentage of federal highway funding to states that do not comply.

The bill has garnered the support of consumers and affected industries to
create a solution to distracted driving.

While some states, including New York, have taken it upon themselves to
ban the practice within its borders, others still lack effective and prudent
measures to curb this behavior.

What makes a nationwide ban so important is the fact that distracted driving
is a practice that is not isolated within particular states. Moreover,
inconsistent laws across our country serve to only confuse and embolden
drivers who text and drive.

Each day that passes without an effective nationwide ban represents a day
that drivers and passengers are put at risk.

Often times, it is the legality of an issue that leads to effective behavioral
change.

For those residents in states that do not ban texting, there is little incentive to
encourage people to stop texting aside from an accident itself.

We, in Congress, have an opportunity to create this law and keep our Federal
regulations up to date with evolving technology's unintended dangers.

It is my hope that through this hearing and others, we can formulate a
comprehensive strategy of how best to educate drivers, both young and old,
of the dangers of distracted driving and keep them safe.

Again, I thank Chairman DeFazio for his commitment to this cause, as well
as the other members of the Subcommittee for allowing me the time to speak
on this important issue.

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