Obama bans texting on the road
October 12, 2009 by Sam NarisiPosted in: Communication, HR Tech, In this week's e-newsletter - Tech, policies
The country’s biggest employer is taking a stand against dangerous driving.
An executive order signed earlier this month by President Obama forbids federal employees from sending text messages while behind the wheel. The rule applies to employees in federal vehicles and to those using a government-issued phone while driving their own cars.
The order was signed at the end of a two-day meeting on distracted driving. The feds are also encouraging all federal contractors to create a similar policy for their employees.
The new ban won’t require a change in behavior for many federal workers — on-the-road texting is already illegal in Washington, D.C., as well as 18 states. To see the laws for your and other states, visit the Governors’ Highway Safety Association.
In addition to the executive order, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced plans to enact a nationwide wide ban on texting in the car.
One proposed bill would force states to pass their own bans, or sacrifice 25% of their highway funding.
With more courts holding companies liable for car accidents caused by employees, experts recommend private employees take the government’s lead and enact stricter driving policies before the law requires it.
Companies can be held liable when an employee causes an accident while “under the scope of employment.” That could include an employee who’s making deliveries, driving to an off-site meeting or having a work-related conversation while running personal errands.
To limit the risk, lawyers recommend creating policies that:
- prohibit talking, texting and e-mailing while behind the wheel (whether the employee has a hands-free headset or not)
- require phones to be turned off while driving to avoid distracting incoming calls, and
- remind employees — and their bosses — that they aren’t expected to make calls and do other work while driving.
Tags: cell phones, driving, obama, safety, texting
October 13th, 2009 at 9:55 am
for the next newsletter?
October 13th, 2009 at 11:54 am
How many articles on Obama must we endure – enough already!!
October 13th, 2009 at 12:14 pm
I thought the purpose of hands free tools – like Blue Tooth – was to be able to converse while both hands were on the steering wheel. What next…banning Books on CD/Tape, listening to the radio or music from car speakers connected to an iPod? This is definitely government intrusion into our private lives. Not texting while driving should be common sense. However, for those who possess none, I guess the government must intrude and pass laws forbidding this action. But enough is enough….what happened to personal responsibility?
October 13th, 2009 at 12:51 pm
To all those who are complaining about the obama ban on texting behind the road. What if your spouse, mother, father, child or friend was killed in an accident caused by someone who was texting while behind the wheel. Does it take this to happen to someone that you love for you to realize that this is to help save lives! It happened to someone in my family! Not once but twice. The second time no lives were lost but it was a miracle that they both walked away. But my aunt will have the memory of that accident for the rest of her life. The accident caused kidney damage and now she’s on dialysis for the rest of her life unless she get’s a kidney transplant. By the way, who cares which president puts the ban on texting. I wish former President Bush had done this before he left office or Mr. Cain had he been elected. It’s really too bad that people don’t use the sense that god gave them.
October 13th, 2009 at 12:52 pm
I agree Marcia – hands free tools should remain legal – and people must have responsibility in using those tools, as much as using a tape/CD player, changing a radio station, or having a smoke. What about the GPS? When Henry Ford constructed the first vehicle, it didn’t have a radio or fancy buttons, and as the auto industry developed new gadgets for cars, which are usually used while driving, those things were never outlawed. The driver learned to drive and chew gum as the same time. This is what’s basically happening now. Texting should not be performed while driving – however, if one feels it cannot wait, then pulling over to do so would be the answer. Drivers shouldn’t read maps, eat or put on makeup either, we can’t expect there to be laws for everything – just a law on common sense. There are always going to be drivers that just can’t drive safely, regardless of electronics, and those who are very responsible, safe and aware. Let’s focus on the driver, not the toys.
October 13th, 2009 at 1:14 pm
Correct me if I am wrong, but I don’t believe we’ve had a President in the past 50 years that has made so many changes to long standing policies within such a short amount of time as this President. Thus, hearing his name repeatedly. Most of those good changes, enhancements or veto’s and some may not so good. Like it or not, we as citizens of the USA must stand behind and support the President who our country voted in. Change can be good, but may not be an easy transition – give it time.
October 13th, 2009 at 1:17 pm
Marcia, as I understand the article, the government, as an employer, is banning texting while driving if you are acting on behalf of the government in any capacity – whether you are using a government vehicle or government issued phone, you are not allowed to text while driving. I agree that personal responsibility should warn each and every one of us to not text while driving. But many still do. In an effort to protect itself from legal ramifications, all employers should have such a policy, including the government. It’s just one more policy to have to add to the employee handbook to protect yourself. I didn’t read this as government interference in personal lives, I read it as the government acting responsibly as an employer.
October 13th, 2009 at 1:21 pm
TJ…. Well said!!!!! People are too preocupied with politics to accept when something is good… as Sandy said…. CHANGE CAN BE GOOD!!!
October 13th, 2009 at 1:24 pm
If hands free is banned then talking in the car needs to be banned. Same thing. In fact talking to another person in the car is worse since drivers tend to look at the other person in the car. Not so on the hands free.
October 13th, 2009 at 1:43 pm
I agree with the concept that texting while driving is dangerous and should not be done. But the problem comes from trying to regulate common sense. It can’t be done! As mentioned before, reading maps, changing CDs, putting on makeup, along with screaming at the kids, eating lunch, changing clothes (I have seen it done), etc. while driving is dangerous. I am sure somewhere at sometime, someone was involved in a wreck by someone doing something stupid. Why not write one law that says if you do something irresponsible and dangerous then it is illegal instead of lots and lots of laws specifically for narrow circumstances, oh wait, that’s the way things are supposed to work.
Also, someone mentioned that as citizens of the USA we must support our President. Not quite, he is the President, he is not perfect. Ours is a system of checks and balances to keep bad people and/or bad ideas from being forced upon us.
October 13th, 2009 at 1:48 pm
What a sad state of affairs when we need to make laws to stop stupidity. It certainly doesn’t say much for our intelligence that someone who have to tell us or make a law that we shouldn’t text or read the newspaper (which I’ve seen) while driving. So, someone will get a ticket. You can make as many laws as you want, it won’t fix stupid, inconsiderate, self centered or self important.
October 13th, 2009 at 2:10 pm
Finally!! He does something that I agree with. Just as driving without a seat belt is illegal, so should be driving while texting. The ability to do both at the same time with due attention is impossible. If not for the safety of the texting driver, then for the safety of the innocent folks. Hopefully all employers will do the same.
October 13th, 2009 at 2:19 pm
I agree with SG. What President Obama is doing could be classified as though the CEO of your company made a policy change – that’s it. It’s not changing actual federal law. HOWEVER, it appears as though many states, if they haven’t done so already, are actually banning texting while driving for all STATE CITIZENS. Are you going to criticize each state as well for taking away your priviledges? LAY OFF PRESIDENT OBAMA!
October 13th, 2009 at 2:42 pm
I disagree with Bill K. When two people are in the car talking, there are two sets of eyes and both people are aware of what is going on around them, if you should be distracted, odds are your passenger will be able to react enough to warn you. When you are talking on a cell phone, you are talking to a person who has no idea of what your situation is like and what is going on. This means that you are the only eyes on the road and if you get distracted, the person on the cell phone isn’t going to be able help you out.
October 13th, 2009 at 2:49 pm
Good for you, KP! I, too, have actually been driving and noticed the driver in front of me doing all sorts of strange movements at every red light. And it turned out he was indeed changing his clothes. I’ve seem women applying mascara and people with the never-ending cell phones. (I almost got hit crossing the street in the crosswalk, with the proper light, by someone using a cell.)I wonder how many agree that texting (and cell phone calls) seems to be an actual addiction. I keep wondering how it is that each and every thought that goes through someone’s head, no matter how inconsequential, must immediately be reported to others and then this individual is compelled to respond to those people’s comments, etc. It is hard to legislate common sense, but I think huge fines get people’s attention, i.e., parking in a handicapped space – once one gets that ticket (at least here in CA and I know in NV) he/she will likely avoid parking in that type of space again.
October 13th, 2009 at 2:50 pm
Bill K.
It sounds like you have been riding with my wife.
This is one of the few issues I agree with this president on. Its an area where he should step in . In general i am reminded of “1984″ and “big Brother”
October 13th, 2009 at 2:56 pm
Wow, some of you are so dense! This is to protect the Federal government as an employer from lawsuits arising from victims of accidents caused while someone is texting. If the employee violates the policy, the employer can use discipline and they would be less vulnerable to a lawsuit with the policy. Although using a bluetooth is also distracting, you do not have to take your eyes off the road to do it. You do if you’re texting. You people are letting your dislike of Obama (I wonder why?) color your common sense. You apparently have not heard of the man who killed two young people because he was texting and did not notice their vehicle had stopped! This is so timely. I work for a state university and we are in the process of developing a policy against texting while on univerisity business or in a university vehicle.
October 13th, 2009 at 3:05 pm
All the references to distractions aside, since when was texting hands-free? There is no dis-allowance on hands-free tools or talking on the phone; it is banning TEXTING which last I checked cannot be done without using at least one hand. This rule makes perfect sense; too bad it has to be legislated and people can’t figure it out for themselves but Darwin’s rule often takes out the innocent bystanders, not just the culprits.
October 13th, 2009 at 3:14 pm
OK kids, let us just agree that a portion of human kind has displayed a remarkable lack of common sense since the beginning of time (have you ever had anyone in your organization say”This policy is stupid – why do we have that one” and you VIVIDLY recall the situation because you investigated the hairbrained employee who took the action that necessitated the policy? Same thing here. Someone, somewhere is always doing something stupid and eventually, if enough people do it, it is going to have to be regulated. And it is to save all of us from all of them. Just yesterday I saw a woman almost rear end another car (with plenty of room between her and the car) becasue she was texting. And after swerving wildly to avoid the collision, she went right back to her text – WHILE CONTINUING TO DRIVE! I am all for a ban like that to at least make some people think twice!
October 13th, 2009 at 3:23 pm
Six of one, half dozen of the other. The law the President signed was for Federal Workers only, not a federal law. So texting offenders will not be stopped by the police, but if responsible for an accident or incident, their job will be in jeopardy. Which may, however help the outside world. Adding another M.V. law will only preoccupy the police to look for those types of infringements at every turn and deter their attention of heftier infractions. I believe that some state laws are put in place to create revenue for towns, cities and states than for actual results.
October 13th, 2009 at 3:28 pm
When will he ban mascara and lipstick. I have almost been run over by women applying these more times than by cellphones.
October 13th, 2009 at 3:36 pm
Yikes, he didn’t ban cellphones, he banned texting!
October 13th, 2009 at 3:40 pm
The President banned texting to Government Employees, not the rest of us. Any employee who has a government car or phone is banned. Read the freaking article in full before making stupid comments about Obama taking away your rights. And by the way texting while driving should be banned. As far as bluetooth, great when people actually use them, but most don’t I see people everyday holding the phone in one hand and the steering wheel with the other.
October 13th, 2009 at 3:53 pm
Sandy, this is not a law, it is a policy! It has nothing to do with the police!!! Please read below. this was takenn directly from the article!
With more courts holding companies liable for car accidents caused by employees, experts recommend private employees take the government’s lead and enact stricter driving policies before the law requires it.
Companies can be held liable when an employee causes an accident while “under the scope of employment.” That could include an employee who’s making deliveries, driving to an off-site meeting or having a work-related conversation while running personal errands.
October 13th, 2009 at 4:06 pm
Stupid that anyone would need a ban on texting while driving — common sense would tell you that it’s not a good idea — but equally stupid that so many on here are screaming about our President taking away our rights. Since when is texting while driving a guaranteed right? mamajanna said it best: “This is to protect the Federal government as an employer from lawsuits arising from victims of accidents caused while someone is texting.” It’s a sad commentary that all employers should do the same to protect themselves from lawsuits.
October 13th, 2009 at 4:26 pm
MammaJanna, you are correct, I wrote “law” and it should have read “ban” the President signed…not a federal law.
I stated the police would not make stops of those who text – however, beware, they may just stop you for “something” else.
Thanks for the correction and for your insight. We all agree, don’t text while driving – keep eyes on the road and hands on the wheel.
October 13th, 2009 at 4:58 pm
I’m more weary than almost anyone at being preached at by Obama, but this appears to be an Executive Order to ban Texting by employees of the Federal Government, not the US public. This is within his authority as the CEO of the executive branch of the government.
October 13th, 2009 at 5:36 pm
Have any of you seen the highway sign “DO NOT PASS SNOWPLOWS ON THE RIGHT”? Common sense says don’t do dat but road departments have to post the sign because one day, some idiot, tried and although unsuccessful, other idiots continue to try. Texting while driving is illegal! When cops see this, if they would start writing tickets –wreckless endangerment while operating a motor vehicle — and the courts back up these tickets by imposing hefty fines and/or suspending/revoking licenses learning will take place. Most local newspapers have police blotter reports…wreckless driving.endangerment always gets mention and radio public service announcements…One example of natural consequences Anyone with a CDL who gets a wreckless driving/endangerment ticket and conviction just lost their CDL and livelihood!
October 14th, 2009 at 6:47 am
Unfortunately, people’s dislike for our President makes them not be able to read thoroughly for some reason. They hear and see what they want to not what is actually going on. I think it’s a great POLICY and should be one that all companies make.
TO KK: For heaven’s sake, he IS the President. If we didn’t see his name in the news what would we have…hmmm…oh yeah…we’d have George Bush.
October 14th, 2009 at 8:23 am
Yeap, got it right Cindy, he IS the President and when the President does anything, his/her name will be plastered all over the news and newspaper. The public is not used to seeing a President’s name constantly, because, we haven’t had a President who has done as much, in so short a time. Whether we agree or not. Texting is not something to be done while driving along with anything else that takes the eyes off the road. Handhelds are also against the law while driving but people do it all the time, laws don’t stop actions of those who believe they can do it all. Let’s move on.
October 14th, 2009 at 9:00 am
I must say I do not normally respond to these type of things. I read them for the knowledge it can bring to my work. However I am replying to say that I do not need to see political rhetoric here. I get enough of that from a thousand other places. What I want to see here is information that will be helpful to me as i direct the Human Resources of my organization.
I am finding the whole cell phone and driving debate to be very narrow sited. It is true that cell phones are a distraction. Texting while driving is a bigger distraction. But I have to say that I can be just as distracted if I am eating on the road, or switching a radio channel. Distracted driving is distracted driving now matter what the object of your distraction is. Have you ever been driving down a road that you drive every day. All of the sudden you look around you and wonder how did I get here. I have and most of the time I have not been talking on the cell or been doing anything that has distracted my attention. I have simply let my mind wander. It is still distracted.
As a company policy I can see that prohibiting texting and cell phone use WHILE DRIVING could be a legitimate policy. You still need to give your employees the ability to pull over to do the business that you have them on the road to do. Otherwise you might as well leave them in an office.
October 14th, 2009 at 9:45 am
To Marsha: After reading all the posts, I get to yours and finally find one I don’t shake my head in disbelieve at! Thanks!
October 14th, 2009 at 9:47 am
**disbelief**
October 14th, 2009 at 10:25 am
Marsha, I totally agree. I too am HR and looking for good information and good tips. Tip for today, don’t text while driving – stop first.
October 15th, 2009 at 10:56 am
As a taxpayer, I am in agreemnet with the need for defining the POLICY for the folks who don’t have common sense about driving safely.
I am however appauled that it took 2 days to come to this conclusion.
Randy
October 16th, 2009 at 6:43 pm
Another thought re using phones or texting behind the wheel. It seems (in interviews I’ve heard) that each individual thinks he/she is fine and in control doing these things. But, those same people are worried about other people doing them. Somebody might get hurt!
October 19th, 2009 at 8:50 am
It makes me a little nervous that some of you are HR professionals.
October 19th, 2009 at 9:01 am
I agree with CL Greer!!
And for Cindy: When I read HR Morning I don’t want to see 5 articles and 3 of them have his name in the title. This should not be a political platform, this should be a place to get good sound HR information.
October 19th, 2009 at 9:05 am
If it affects HR then you ARE going to see the articles. As HR Professionals, don’t you want to keep up-to-date on what is coming down the road? He is planning on making a lot of changes. I, personally, would like a heads up.
I believe everyone on these boards is an HR Professional. Just because people have different views doesn’t make them unprofessional.
October 19th, 2009 at 9:18 am
Different points of view does not make a person unprofessional, but the manner is which they express them does.
October 20th, 2009 at 9:48 am
I don’t get kk’s point. Whose name is he talking about in the title and what political platform? Does he/she not realize that employers take their cues from what happens in the Federal government, which is the ultimate employer? Because of the president’s action, you will see hundreds of employers take the same stand. It’s important for HR professionals to be aware of the various trends that directly impact our employers and our jobs.
October 20th, 2009 at 11:20 am
Instead of all the negative comments, try it yourself, CAREFULLY. Texting & driving IS NOT “walking & chewing gum.” The proof is already available. Even though it’s the government employees that are being banned from texting while driving and even though it may be ultimately to protect the “employer” i.e. Federal Government, in reality it will protect many innocent drivers, bicylist, bikers and pedestrians. Any of us could be any one of those at any given time. ALL employers should take this stand as should all states. It should be a DMV law. Again, I have to agree with Obama’s choice to do this and I don’t see it as politics, just good business. BTW…I don’t support him on many issues, but this simply is not politics.
October 20th, 2009 at 2:35 pm
You cannot legislate morality or common sense into being. Either you have it or you don’t…