(Grain Valley, Mo., Oct. 28, 2009) –The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) supports the Department of Transportation’s efforts to curb distracted driving and looks forward to participating in upcoming rulemakings announced by Secretary of Transportation Ray Lahood today. OOIDA also encourages the DOT to extend any related regulation or legislation to all vehicle operators, not just truckers.

Members of OOIDA, who are professional and small-business truckers, have long held concerns about what they witness while working on America’s roadways. They report seeing not only drivers operating automobiles who are engaged in activities that significantly impede their ability to attend to the task of driving, but also drivers that do not appear to understand how to safely share the road with large trucks.  

“For years I’ve seen car drivers doing everything from reading books to putting on make-up. Now I see folks texting while driving all too often,” said OOIDA member and veteran trucker Dale Wiederholt. “All drivers need to put safety first and fully focus on operating their vehicles.”

The Association would like to see more programs conducted by various state law enforcement agencies that aim to educate the motoring public about driving around big rigs. These programs involve a state officer riding along with an owner-operator and watching for motorists who follow too closely or cut in front of tractor-trailers.

“These and related types of programs go a long way towards encouraging highway safety,” said OOIDA’s Executive Vice President Todd Spencer.

Also testifying at today’s hearing held by the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee was Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Julius Genachowski who announced that the FCC would embark on a campaign to educate the public about the dangers of texting while driving.

“We applaud the Department of Transportation, the Senate and the House for focusing efforts on combating texting while driving.  It is a terribly dangerous activity that has become all too common,” said Spencer.

OOIDA also calls upon government entities to provide law enforcement with the resources that they need to fully enforce existing laws on inattentive or negligent driving.

“Currently, there are laws on the books that provide police with the authority to ticket drivers who are doing something they shouldn’t behind the wheel.  We need to encourage law enforcement to crack down on all drivers of all types of vehicles, not just truckers,” said Spencer.

But while Spencer advocated for increased law enforcement, he cautioned that laws should be carefully crafted to address the problem while still protecting privacy rights.

The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association is the largest national trade association representing the interests of small-business trucking professionals and professional truck drivers. The Association currently has more than 158,000 members nationwide. OOIDA was established in 1973 and is headquartered in the greater Kansas City, Mo., area.