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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Josh Shapiro |
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Shapiro tapped to participate in national distracted driving summit
HARRISBURG, Sept. 9 – State Rep. Josh Shapiro, D-Montgomery, has been invited by U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood to participate in a national summit to address the dangers of distracted driving.
The summit, to be held Sept. 30 through Oct. 1 in Washington, D.C., will address the dangers of talking and texting behind the wheel. Shapiro will be joined by other state legislators, senior transportation officials, safety advocates and law enforcement representatives to find ways to put an end to distracted driving and save lives on America’s roadways.
"Talking and texting on hand-held cell phones is the No. 1 distraction for drivers, and distracted drivers are three times as likely to be involved in a crash," Shapiro explained. "We will save lives on our roadways by simply disconnecting drivers from their hand-held cell phones."
Shapiro has long advocated for a statewide ban on texting and talking while driving and has sponsored legislation (H.B. 538) to prohibit this dangerous practice in Pennsylvania. His bill is co-sponsored by 75 members of the House. Studies from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Virginia Tech, Carnegie Mellon and the University of Utah have all shown that drivers who talk on their cell phones are three to four times more likely to be involved in a crash, and drivers who text are 23 times more likely to be involved in a crash.
For information about the distracted driving summit, visit www.pahouse.com/shapiro/TopIssues_Links.asp.
Shapiro represents the 153rd Legislative District in Montgomery County. For more information, visit www.pahouse.com/Shapiro.