Senate Committee Approved Measure To Reward States Against Distracted Driving
Under a measure approved by a Senate Committee Wednesday, States would be rewarded for cracking down on distracted drivers.
The bill will now head to full Senate. If passed the bill would create a $94 million program to give out grants to states that prohibit texting and talking on the phone while driving.
This measure is different from competing bill because it would not punish states for failing to enact distracted driving laws.
Texas Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchinson agrees that distracted driving poses a serious threat to all drivers, passengers, and pedestrians on the road. Hutchinson favors this new piece of legislation over the competing bill because it respects state rights.
This bill would set a high standard for receiving federal dollars. States would have pass a laws against texting and using phones while driving. The federal dollars would come from surplus cash flow in another highway bill.
Under the bill, law enforcement can pull over drivers for not following the measures. A corresponding house bill has not made it out of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee subpanel
After reading in the paper yesterday that Arlington stopped a bill that would prohibit texting while behind the wheel, I find this national news very uplifting. The nation is seeing distracted driving as a problem and is finely taking a stand against it. The giving of federal dollars is a great way to get states to create these laws.
One question I’ve heard is: Is the spending of federal dollars on this program really worth it? Twenty-eight states plus the District of Columbia have laws against texting while driving. Seven States and D.C. also prohibit using phones on the road. Clearly States have already seen the importance of prohibiting distracted driving, is the money worth it? Whatever happens, money or no money, it’s great to see the nation take a stand and something as dangerous as distracted driving. The teens of Fort Worth took take a stand in my Teens Against Distracted Driving program, it will be interesting to see what the Capital does.
Information and Commentary are provided by Dallas/ Fort Worth Car Accident Lawyer Mark Anderson. The Anderson Law Firm can be reached in Fort Worth at 817.294. 1900 or in Dallas at 214.327.8000. If you have questions about car accidents or distracted driving please fill out our contact form online for a free consultation.
