Today I testified before the House Energy & Commerce Subcommittees on Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection and on Communications, Technology and the Internet in a joint hearing called “Driven To Distraction: Technological Devices and Vehicle Safety.”

While you can read my testimony  and the statement, here are some of the key points. We believe there are three components to making safer drivers and safer roads. They are:

• Legislation:  The wireless industry joins Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood in supporting a state and local ban on manual texting and emailing while driving. In fact, we are working with the National Conference of State Legislatures, the American Legislative Exchange Council, and other state organizations to craft model legislation that could be adopted across the country that would prohibit this activity. In addition, the industry supports restrictions on provisional or novice drivers from using their wireless devices while driving. 
• Technology:  We support technological advancements, but caution that they cannot be based on inflexible mandates that could stifle innovation. They must also be affordable and consumer-friendly.
• Education:  Last, but most importantly, CTIA and the wireless industry have a longstanding commitment and support to educating all drivers about the dangers of distracted driving. For almost 10 years, the association and many of our members have independently developed educational campaigns. We’ve launched several TV and radio public service announcement (PSA) campaign on safe driving. Most recently, CTIA and the National Safety Council launched our teen-focused “On the Road, Off the Phone” campaign. 

Please tell everyone you know that no one should be texting and emailing while driving. It will lead to safer drivers and safer roads for all of us.

Today, CTIA’s Executive Vice President Bobby Franklin issued the following statement after his testimony before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Highways and Transit hearing on "Addressing the Problem of Distracted Driving":
 
"CTIA and the wireless industry appreciated the opportunity to participate at the House hearing on this very important issue. With so many Americans relying on mobile devices as a great safety tool, it's important to remind consumers that there is an appropriate time and inappropriate time to use them.
 
"Legislation, technology and education are three vital components that we believe are needed to develop safer drivers and safer roads. CTIA believes that manual texting and emailing while driving are incompatible with safe driving and join Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood in supporting a state and local ban on this activity. In fact, we are working with the National Conference of State Legislatures, the American Legislative Exchange Council, and other state organizations to craft model legislation that could be adopted across the country that would prohibit manual texting and emailing while driving.
 
"We also support technological advancements, but caution that they cannot be based on inflexible mandates that could stifle innovation. They must also be affordable and consumer-friendly.
 
"Finally, we are proud of our long-standing educational activities, including our recent partnership with the National Safety Council to launch a teen-focused campaign, ‘On the Road, Off the Phone.' As part of the campaign, we developed a Web site and a television public service announcement which has been viewed thousands of times since we launched last month.
 
"CTIA and our members look forward to continuing to work with policymakers and stakeholders at all levels to combat distracted driving."
 
For more information about the CTIA and NSC "On the Road, Off the Phone" campaign, please visit: www.onroadoffphone.org.

Today, I issued the following statement in response to Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Jay Rockefeller's (D-WV) introduction of “Distracted Driving Prevention Act of 2009” (S. 1938):

"CTIA welcomes introduction of Chairman Rockefeller’s legislation, and we look forward to working with the Chairman and his colleagues to enact a solution to the problem of distracted driving.

“We are particularly pleased that the legislation includes a significant educational component since, as Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Ray LaHood has noted, legislative prohibitions alone are unlikely to solve this problem. We have partnered with the National Safety Council to co-brand a public service announcement (PSA) and Web site (onroadoffphone.org) focused on educating consumers about the dangers and consequences of distracted driving. Having the DOT echo this message can only help as we continue to seek to inform and educate the driving public.” 

There was a lot of attention in the media about distracted driving this week. 
 
CTIA and the National Safety Council released our teen-focused TV PSA that simply tells them, "On the Road, Off the Phone." We also unveiled our joint Web site which provides parents with tips on how to talk to their teens about the dangers of distracted driving.
 
Steve Largent, our President and CEO, participated in the Department of Transportation's Distracted Driving Summit panel called “Technology and Distracted Driving” on September 30th. 
 
Then yesterday, at the conclusion of the Distracted Driving Summit, the White House issued an Executive Order and Secretary LaHood made several announcements. We concurred with their conclusion that distracted driving legislation should be developed and enforced by state and local governments.
 
But throughout this week (and for many years), we've stressed that while state and local legislation is a part of the solution, education is key to trying to end distracted driving.
 
We also agree with Secretary LaHood that personal responsibility is important and every single person needs to be aware about the serious dangers and possible consequences of texting and driving. 
 
So if you remember nothing else from this week, remember this: please don't text and drive. Tell your kids, your parents, your family, your friends -- anyone and everyone. It's a simple message and one we hope more people follow.
 

Today, I issued the following statement in response to the closing remarks by the White House and Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood on distracted driving:

"The wireless industry remains committed to educating all drivers about the dangers of distracted driving.  We support state and local legislation that would ban texting for all drivers and place wireless use restrictions on teens and novice drivers.  We agree with Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood's recommendation that distracted driving legislation should be developed and enforced by state and local governments.  While state and local legislation is a part of the solution, education is key to trying to end distracted driving.  We also agree with Secretary LaHood that personal responsibility is important and every single person needs to be aware about the serious dangers and possible consequences of texting and driving. 

"Since we unveiled our public service announcement (PSA) on Tuesday, September 29th with the National Safety Council, we have received several inquiries from TV stations that have requested to run our PSA and we hope to receive many more. Focused on teens, the PSA tells them to simply remember, ‘On the Road, Off the Phone.'

"We also strongly encourage parents to talk to their kids about these dangers and invite them to visit our Web site at onroadoffphone.org for more information. 

"We look forward to continuing to work with the National Safety Council as well as other participants from the Summit to combat distracted driving."

This morning I issued the following statement in advance of my afternoon panel discussion called “Technology and Distracted Driving” at the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Distracted Driving Summit:

“On behalf of the wireless industry, I am pleased to be a part of this inaugural discussion with experts and leaders from various industries, academia, policymakers and other influentials who gathered to learn and discuss the dangers of distracted driving. 

“I am confident that the one thing all of us agree on is that education is essential to trying to end distracted driving. 

“That’s why we were proud to announce our partnership with the National Safety Council and our teen-focused campaign, ‘On the Road, Off the Phone’ on Tuesday, September 29th. We encourage parents and teens to visit our Web site for more information and to view our television public service announcement (PSA).

“CTIA and our members look forward to continued discussions based on the Summit. In addition, the industry remains committed to educating adults and novice drivers about the dangers of distracted driving.”

For more information on Safe Driving, click here.

Very early this morning, the National Safety Council (NSC) and CTIA revealed their "On the Road, Off the Phone" campaign that is targeting teens and novice drivers to educate them on the dangers of distracted driving.
 
As part of the campaign, we've developed a television public service announcement (PSA) and a website that provides parents and teens with information to learn more about distracted driving. 
 

  
Teens and novice drivers are the most inexperienced drivers, and statistics show that they are most likely to be involved in vehicle crashes caused by distracted driving. This is also a group that relies on their wireless devices to talk and text. We believe educating them on responsible driving will make them better drivers now – and as they continue into adulthood.
 
We are proud to continue our relationship with NSC on this very important issue and we hope you find it useful. Tell your teens – "On the Road, Off the Phone." 

I issued the following statement today on U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Ray LaHood’s Texting While Driving Summit:

“We appreciate Secretary LaHood's approach to having a thorough and thoughtful summit with experts on texting while driving next month. 
 
“CTIA and the wireless industry believe that when it comes to using your wireless device behind the wheel, safety is always the number one priority.  We believe that texting while driving is incompatible with safe driving and support state and local statutes that ban this activity while driving.  We have been working and will continue to work with state legislatures on this issue. 
 
“In Secretary LaHood's prepared remarks released by his office, he says he would ban texting while driving.  However, he acknowledges that passing a law is not enough but that education and enforcement are key to making drivers more aware of their responsibilities behind-the-wheel. 
 
“We concur with the Secretary that education and enforcement are vital to changing behavior and will continue our long-standing efforts to educate consumers about the potential risks of distracted driving.”

For more information on texting while driving, please click here.