Distracted Driving Prevention Act of 2009

Summary

Distracted Driving Prevention Act of 2009 - Directs the Secretary of Transportation to make grants to states that enact laws that prohibit, with certain exceptions, and establish fines for texting and/or handheld cellphone use while driving. Requires a state that receives a grant to allocate: (1) at least 50% to educate and advertise to the public about the dangers of texting or using a cellphone while driving as well as enforce the distracted driving law; and (2) up to 50% for other traffic safety improvement projects. Directs the Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to administer a distracted driving national education program with at least two high-visibility education and advertising campaigns. Requires the Secretary to establish a research program to study distracted driving by passenger and commercial vehicle drivers. Directs the the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to report to Congress on existing and developing wireless communications technology that may be used to reduce problems associated with distracted driving. Requires the Secretary to: (1) prescribe regulations on the use of electronic or wireless devices, including cell phones and other distracting devices, by operators of commercial motor vehicles and school buses; and (2) prohibit their use in circumstances where it interferes with the driver's safe operation of the vehicles.

This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.

Timeline

1. 3 November 2009

   Introduced

   Referred to House Transportation and Infrastructure

   Source: IntroReferral

2. 3 November 2009

   Introduced

   Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

   Source: IntroReferral

3. 3 November 2009

   Introduced

   Introduced in House

   Source: IntroReferral

4. 3 November 2009

   Introduced

   Introduced in House

   Source: IntroReferral

5. 4 November 2009

   Referred

   Referred to the Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection.

   Source: Committee

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

• Introduced in House · 3 November 2009 · Official file

Documents

3 official files

• Introduced in House (text)

  Introduced in House · EN · 3 November 2009

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Introduced in House (PDF)

  Introduced in House · EN · 3 November 2009

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Introduced in House

  summary · EN · 3 November 2009

  Open at official source

Sponsors

• ELIOT ENGEL · D · Sponsor
• Rep. Schmidt, Jean [R-OH-2] · R · Sponsor
• Rep. Richardson, Laura [D-CA-37] · D · Cosponsor
• Rep. Cao, Anh "Joseph" [R-LA-2] · R · Cosponsor
• Rep. Markey, Betsy [D-CO-4] · D · Cosponsor
• Theodore Deutch · D · Cosponsor
• Rep. Castle, Michael N. [R-DE-At Large] · R · Cosponsor
• · hspw00 · Standing
• · hsif00 · Standing

Related records

• related to ← Distracted Driving Prevention Act of 2010