So this is what happens after the NYT highlights research that shows that driving while texting increases the risk of a crash by 23 percent — Federal scrutiny and potential legislation.
A total of 16 states — most recently Oregon and New Hampshire — currently have bans against text messaging while driving; recent high-profile crashes in Boston and Los Angeles due to texting have sparked a ton of media coverage. And according to the WSJ, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said the government would support a more comprehensive law, but that they needed to conduct a bit more research first.
CTIA President Steve Largent told the Journal that the wireless industry trade group supports all state and local statutes that ban texting while driving — but that consumers needed education about the issue, not just laws. In September, the Transportation Dept will host a summit that focuses on the problem of drivers distracted by cell phone use of all kinds; state and city lawmakers, law-enforcement officials and safety advocates are all expected to take part in the summit.

Comments have been disabled for this post