Distracted driving needs ban

Skokie attorney Edward M. Maloney, newsletter co-editor and past chair of he ISBA Traffic Laws and Courts Section Council, represents the state bar association in an initiative to curb the reckless use by motorists of hand-held computer devices.

The Distracted Drivers Task Force met Jan. 9 in Springfield and Feb. 19 in Chicago to examine the problem and develop strategies that could include legislation similar to a model Oregon law that bans text-messaging while driving.

State Rep. Bill Black of Danville and State Sen. Mike Frerichs of Champaign sponsored the bill to create the task force, and both are members of it.

The initiative is a response to the September 2006 death of a bicyclist hit by a teenage driver who ran off the road while downloading cell-phone ring tones.

“Distracted driving has become a serious problem in our state and in our nation,” said Secretary of State Jesse White, who chairs the task force.

Back to Table of Contents