LaHood touts new state bans on texting-while-driving

The outgoing transportation secretary, who plans to leave DOT when Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx (D) is confirmed to replace him, has noted in recent interviews that fewer than 10 states had distracted driving laws on the books when he became secretary in 2009.

The Transportation Department opted against pushing for a nationwide ban on texting-while-driving during LaHood’s tenure despite a high-profile call for that step from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).

Instead, the DOT under LaHood pushed states to enact their own distracted driving bans like the ones that were approved by Florida and Hawaii.

Foxx, who is President Obama’s nominee to replace LaHood, has praised the outgoing secretary for putting awareness of distracted driving “into the DNA” of the department. During his confirmation hearing, Foxx pledged to continue LaHood’s work on the issue if he is confirmed to lead the department.

The new law in Hawaii makes texting-while-driving a “primary” offense, meaning drivers can be pulled over for that alone. Florida’s law makes distracted driving a “secondary” offense, meaning drivers have to be pulled over for something else before they can be ticketed for texting behind the wheel.