CTIA–The Wireless Association Statement on DOT Secretary Ray LaHood’s Texting While Driving Summit

WASHINGTON--CTIA - The Wireless Association® President and CEO Steve Largent issued the following statement 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 or questions, please contact Amy Storey, 202-736-3207, astorey@ctia.org

CTIA is the international association for the wireless telecommunications industry,
representing carriers, manufacturers and wireless Internet providers.
www.ctia.org