Source: American Trucking Associations, Arlington, Va.

ATA, the leading voice for heavy-duty trucking interests in federal government affairs, supports U.S. Department of Transportation measures to curtail distracted driving and a recently introduced Senate bill, Avoiding Life-Endangering and Reckless Texting by Drivers Act of 2009 or ALERT.

ATA will participate in a late-September, Washington, D.C., summit where Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and his colleagues highlight the dangers of distracted driving, including distractions tied to writing, sending or reading text messages on mobile communications devices. The association has advocated for policies that would minimize or eliminate driver distraction caused by using electronic devices while operating any type of motor vehicle. Its safety agenda contends that a) such devices hinder driver performance by taking the driver’s eyes off the road; and, b) drivers can become so absorbed in messages that their ability to concentrate on driving is impaired.

ATA also supports the safety objectives of the ALERT bill, calling for states to ban writing, sending or reading text messages using a hand-held mobile telephone or other portable electronic communication device. States that do not comply with the legislation risk losing 25 percent of their federal highway funding. The association will work to ensure that the bill does not inadvertently require states to outlaw the use of truck cab fleet management systems that provide drivers limited but necessary cargo-related information. ALERT was introduced in late July by 
U.S. Senators Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Mary Landrieu (D-La.), and Kay Hagan (D-NC).