“Total ban on distracted driving?”

Posted: 08 Oct 2010 09:13 PM PDT

WASHINGTON -- Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood says he believes that motorists are distracted by any use of mobile phones while driving, including hands-free calls, as his department begins research that may lead him to push for a ban.

Mr. LaHood, whose campaign against texting and making calls while driving has led to restrictions in 30 states, says his concerns extend to vehicle information and entertainment systems such as Ford's Sync and General Motors' OnStar.

"I don't want people talking on phones, having them up to their ear or texting while they're driving," Mr. LaHood said in an interview this week. "We need a lot better research on other distractions," including Bluetooth-enabled hands-free calls and the in-car systems, he said.

Even without a ban, which would have to be implemented by individual states, Mr. LaHood's escalating campaign may limit the growth of vehicle features such as Sync, being added by automakers to attract younger buyers.

His push also may reduce calls made from vehicles and the revenue of mobile-phone firms such as Verizon Wireless and AT&T.

Calling for a ban on hands-free communications is a possible outcome of research under way at Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration into all driver distractions, spokeswoman Olivia Alair said.

Mr. LaHood plans to meet with the heads of all makers of cars sold in the United States to discuss their cooperation in limiting distracted driving, he said.

The department's powers to push further limits on distracted driving range from exhortations to setting standards backed by federal financial clout. The government has awarded highway aid to states based on whether they raised the legal drinking age to 21 or required seatbelt use.

First published on October 9, 2010 at 12:00 am

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