AAA Urges Texting While Driving Law

HARRISBURG, Pa., Nov. 9 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- AAA officials today joined
with state legislators to urge passage of a state law to ban text messaging
while driving. Speaking at the state capitol along with House Transportation
Committee Chairmen Joe Markosek and Rick Geist, and other transportation
committee members, Pennsylvania AAA Federation director Ted Leonard said,
"Texting while driving is a risk to ALL road users, and an overwhelming
majority of the public supports the enactment of a ban."

Text messaging while driving has skyrocketed over the past few years and the
trend is increasing. AAA research reported that 21 percent of drivers
admitted text messaging while driving during the last month. According to the
Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, a driver's crash risk doubles when
he/she looks away from the road for two or more seconds. Texting while
driving presents a danger due to the significant time involved in writing,
reading and sending messages - all of which take the driver's eyes and
attention off the road.

Public support for laws banning text messaging while driving is generally high
- a recent survey of AAA members in Pennsylvania showed 93 percent supported a
law that would make it illegal for drivers to send text messages while
operating a moving vehicle. As of September 1, 2009, 18 states and the
District of Columbia have enacted laws banning texting while driving.
Research by AAA in California shows that in-vehicle text messaging declined by
70 percent since California's law went into effect on January 1, 2009.

"Text messaging is one of many distractions that can divert a driver's
attention," said Leonard, "and teen drivers are particularly susceptible to
distractions like texting, personal grooming, changing the radio/CD player and
talking with passengers. For adult drivers, who provide the example for young
drivers, texting while driving sends the wrong message. We strongly support
the measures in House Bill 2070 to ban the dangerous practice of texting while
driving."

SOURCE Pennsylvania AAA Federation

Ted Leonard of Pennsylvania AAA Federation, +1-717-238-7192, ted@aaapa.org