Senate Committee Takes Aim At Distracted Driving, Loud Ads
A pair of bills approved by the Senate Commerce Committee Wednesday target separate activities many Americans take for granted -- loud TV ads and using cell phones while driving.
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The committee approved the Distracted Driving Prevention Act (S-1938) by a 17-8 vote. All “no” votes came from committee Republicans, who said states are already cracking down on distracted driving and opposed a federal government role. The bill offers incentives to states to enact laws combating distracted driving. It also would ban automakers from installing monitors or screens that distract drivers. The bill was sponsored by committee Chairman Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va. and ranking minority member Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas. Distracted driving is an “emerging public health epidemic,” said Rockefeller. Hutchison cited a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration report from 2008 concluding that almost 6,000 people died from auto crashes resulting from distracted driving. Another 515,000 were injured from such crashes, or 22% of all injuries from auto accidents, she added.
"All would agree that driving while distracted poses serious safety risks not only to the drivers but to passengers, pedestrians, and anyone sharing the road,” Hutchison said. “Unfortunately, studies have shown that while people are aware of the safety risks associated with using cell phones and texting devices while driving, they still engage in this behavior. Our legislation respects the rights of states and does not threaten states with lost highway funds if they elect not to enact a distracted driving law,” she added.
The committee also approved the advertising bill (S-2847) by a unanimous voice vote. The bill requires the FCC to enforce internationally accepted standards of advertising volumes, said Rockefeller. “Excessively loud television advertisements may seem like a small thing -- but they are a big source of irritation for many television viewers,” he said. “This bill will help put a stop to the annoying practice of featuring television advertisements that are many times louder than television programming.” “Little things are a big deal in people’s lives,” added McCaskill. “There are people who don’t have remote controls and have to sit through and listen to the blaring of commercials. It just infuriates me,” she said. “This could improve the approval rating of Congress more than anything else we can do."
CTIA Vice President of Government Affairs Jot Carpenter understands the committee’s concern on distracted driving, he said. “We share Chairman Rockefeller’s view that driving while texting is incompatible with safe driving,” he said in a press statement Wednesday.
The Rural Cellular Association applauded passage of the distracted-driving bill. “RCA members are committed to their customers and making sure their customers are well informed that distracted driving is a real threat,” said RCA President Steven Berry.