(Washington, DC – Todd Zwillich, Transportation Nation) A Washington, DC, lobbying firm has nixed a campaign against federal distracted driving initiatives after Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood lashed out at the plans.
LaHood took a swing today at the Seward Square Group, who he said is drumming up opposition to DOT’s distracted driving campaign.
LaHood accused the lobbyists, some of whom represent mobile phone device manufacturers, of cynically trying to undermine efforts to curb distracted driving. DOT claims distracted driving, including the use of PDA’s and cell phones while behind the wheel, causes 6,000 deaths per year on U.S. roads.
“Those of us who care about safety will join our effort, not undercut it. Thousands of lives are at stake,” LaHood said a press conference at DOT headquarters in Washington.
Shortly afterward, Seward Square released a statement saying its plan was being scrapped.
“Our collaborative effort simply sought to expand the discussion to include other common forms of driver distraction,” read the statement, provided by Seward to Transportation Nation. “We are all in agreement that distracted driving is a serious public safety issue, and that texting while driving is an unacceptable danger on our roadways,” the group said.
What got LaHood riled up is was a PowerPoint planning document circulated last week by Seward Square. It sought to rally cell phone companies and other interest groups against DOT’s safety campaign. The document also says TV host Oprah Winfrey has used a “bullhorn” against any use of PDA’s or cell phones in cars.
“With industries remaining silent, national transportation authorities and media celebrities have hijacked the debate, a dire consequence to reasonable regulation,” the document states. It warns that the auto, tech, and insurance industries have become “collateral damage” in the debate over distracted driving.
The document was first made public last week by the safety news Web site fairwarning.org.
“This new lobbing effort – by Seward Square and others – jeopardizes the progress we’ve made by undermining our message about public safety. It’s dangerous – designed to deflect attention away from texting and talking behind the wheel, the most risky types of distracted driving. And it’s just plain wrong,” LaHood said.
Seward Square maintained that it was only trying to prevent electronic devices from being the sole target of distracted driving campaigns.
“The goal of the proposed coalition concept was to work with all concerned parties and public safety advocates to modernize driver education and promote aggressive enforcement, as this issue is more than just phones in cars,” Seward’s statement said.
