U.S. DOT’s Distracted Driving Summit: Follow it Live

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood is hosting a summit on the issue of distracted driving — specifically, driving while texting — with an eye to marshaling support for a national ban on the practice.

To follow the summit as it unfolds, check out the agency’s live-blog or visit the live webcast of the proceedings. The event will run through tomorrow afternoon.

ALSO ON STREETSBLOG

LaHood Announces Safety Summits to Help Shape New Bikeway Standards

By Dani Simons | Mar 5, 2013

In 2010, DOT Secretary Ray LaHood mounted a table at the National Bike Summit and proclaimed, “I’ve been all over America, and…people want alternatives. They want out of their cars, they want out of congestion, they want to live in… livable communities.” He added, to thunderous applause, “You’ve got a partner in Ray LaHood.” Shortly […]

Today’s Headlines

By Katie Pearce | May 22, 2014

Legacy of Urban Highways Hampered Obama’s Goals for Livable Cities (City Lab) House Panel Approves Bill That Would Cut Transit Grants (AP) Transpo Unions Push for Blumenauer’s Gas Tax Hike Idea (In These Times) Study: Biking Instead of Driving Saves the U.S. Over $4.6B/Year (Forbes) At Tech Summit, LaHood Continues to Tout 10-Cent Increase in Gas […]

Distracted Driving Is Claiming the Lives of More Pedestrians and Cyclists

By Angie Schmitt | Oct 23, 2013

Total traffic deaths have declined nationwide in recent years, but the same has not held true for the most vulnerable people on the streets: cyclists and pedestrians. In 2011, 130 more pedestrians were killed in traffic than the year before, a 3 percent increase, while 54 more people lost their lives while biking, an increase […]

Today’s Headlines

By Adam Voiland | Sep 21, 2010

LaHood, DOT Keep Focus on Distracted Driving With Summit (WaPo) Meanwhile, New Proposal Would Ban Certain Truck Drivers from Texting (AP) Freight Trains: A Thorn in Obama’s High-Speed Rail Plan (WSJ) Bike-Sharing Hits the Big Time in DC with CaBi (WaPo, NYT, GGW) Christie Eyes Raiding Hudson River Rail Tunnel Funds for Other Projects (NJ.com) […]

Participants in Oregon DOT's voluntary program will compete to avoid using their phones while driving. Image: ODOT via Bike Portland

Oregon DOT Challenges Drivers to Avoid Using Their Phones Behind the Wheel

By Angie Schmitt | Aug 2, 2017

The state is promoting an app that turns the act of driving without distraction into a competition.

Be Evil: Driving While Using Google Glass Should Be Legal, Says Google

By Angie Schmitt | Feb 28, 2014

Google Glass: Buying one will set you back $1,500. It makes even the most attractive people look ridiculous. It may or may not be the future of mobile technology. A handful of states are trying to get out ahead of any risk this product might present to public safety. Bills bubbling up in eight states would […]