Obama bans texting and driving while working for the government

At the end of the two-day summit held by the Department of Transportation to crack down on distracted driving, President Barack Obama signed an executive order banning federal workers from texting while driving government vehicles. The White House said that the ban also applies to privately owned vehicles if the employee is on official government business.

The president’s order encourage federal contractors and others doing business with the U.S. government to enforce their own ban on texting while driving on the job, the White House said.

“This order sends a very clear signal to the American public that distracted driving is dangerous and unacceptable,” Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said. “It shows that the federal government is leading by example.”

The Transportation Department officials plan to seek a federal ban for truck and interstate bus drivers on text messaging and using cell phones while on the job.

What are your thoughts? Do you think the United States government should legally ban texting while driving? Cast your vote in the poll below.

– By: Omar Rana

Source: Detroit News
Photo Credit: Pete Souza – Flickr