National Safety Council Praises Development of Model Texting Legislation

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Feb 25, 2010, 03:49 ET

ITASCA, Ill., Feb. 25 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Safety Council (NSC) today praised the U.S. Department of Transportation for its leadership in developing model legislation that provides state legislatures a framework to write laws that prohibit texting while driving.

NSC was one of several safety organizations and industry groups brought together by the U.S. Department of Transportation to develop the sample bill. Representatives from the wireless and automobile industries also participated in drafting the sample bill. The need for legislation is underscored by the 200,000 motor vehicle crashes that are caused each year by drivers reading, writing and sending text messages and emails while driving.

"The leadership shown by Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and the DOT agency leaders and staffs to the distracted driving issue is demonstrated by the development of this model legislation," said Janet Froetscher, president and CEO of the National Safety Council. This model legislation can be used by the 31 states currently without texting laws to accelerate the legislative process and begin protecting motorists. We encourage state legislators to use this model to ban texting and save lives in their states."

The National Safety Council (www.nsc.org) saves lives by preventing injuries and deaths at work, in homes and communities, and on the roads, through leadership, research, education and advocacy.

SOURCE National Safety Council