FCC, DOT Combat Distracted Driving

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski announced Wednesday that they are launching a campaign to evaluate technologies that may help curb the dangerous epidemic of distracted driving. Their news came at a joint hearing of two House Commerce Committee panels where both Obama administration officials testified. The DOT-FCC partnership will also include outreach efforts to educate the public about the dangers of texting and taking on cell phones while driving and other behavior that can lead to accidents, according to a press release. Sec LaHood told lawmakers distracted driving "is costing lives and inflicting injuries across the nation's roads and railways. Chairman Genachowski said combining the resources of both agencies "can have a major impact on this problem."