UPDATE 1-Carmakers favor US ban on texting while driving

* DOT holds 'distracted drivers' conference next week

* Researchers warn of 'crash epidemic' from texting

* Some states already banned texting while driving
(Recasts, adds input from wireless industry, details of
Virginia cell phone study)

By John Crawley

WASHINGTON, Sept 23 (Reuters) - Automakers backed calls to
ban drivers on U.S. roads from text messaging with cell phones
and other hand-held devices, an issue gaining attention from
the Obama administration and Congress.

"It's common sense," Dave McCurdy, president of the
Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers trade group, said in a
conference call with reporters on Wednesday, a week before the
U.S. government holds a distracted driving forum in
Washington.

"The use of hand-held devices has increased dramatically
and I think there is a temptation to lose focus and take your
eyes off the road," McCurdy said.

The auto alliance represents General Motors Co GM.UL,
Ford Motor Co (F.N) and Chrysler as well as Toyota Motor Co
(7203.T), Volkswagen (VOWG.DE) and other overseas carmakers.

The wireless industry -- including cellphone manufacturers,
carriers, and some Internet companies represented by the
CTIA-Wireless Association -- also believes texting "is
incompatible with safe driving."

The trade group supports state and local efforts to ban
texting and driving as well as public education and aggressive
enforcement.

There were more than 1 trillion text messages sent and
received on wireless devices last year, including cell phones
and smart phones, the association said. There are no statistics
on how many people drive and text, the group said.

The National Safety Council, a research group, is pushing
for a full ban on cell phone use and texting while driving.

Data on crashes linked to texting is anecdotal. But McCurdy
cited research from the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute,
which found in a study released in July that text messaging
while driving was significantly more distracting than talking
or listening on a cell phone or reaching for an object.

Texting "has the potential to create a true crash epidemic"
if it continues to grow in popularity, especially among
teenagers as they reach driving age in larger numbers, the
researchers said.

Researchers compiled real-world driving data from truck
drivers over 18 months. The texting portion of the study was
government-funded.

About a dozen U.S. states have passed laws banning texting
while driving. A handful have made cellphone use illegal while
behind the wheel, a practice that automakers do not oppose in
all circumstances.

The U.S. Transportation Department will host a distracted
driving conference next week in Washington with safety,
technology and other experts. The meeting will also explore
legislative and regulatory approaches.

Legislation proposed by Sen. Charles Schumer of New York
would withhold 25 percent of federal highway money from states
that do not ban texting while driving. A text-while-driving ban
has also been proposed in the House of Representatives.
(Reporting by John Crawley, editing by Matthew Lewis)