The annual summit on distracted driving was held this week. While those at the summit acknowledged the progress that has been made, there was a consensus that too many people are still being injured or killed because of distracted driving. All parties agreed that tough laws and stringent enforcement of those laws is necessary to ensure drivers keep their eyes on the road.

The government is now pressuring employers to become part of the effort. Texting behind the wheel while working can have devastating consequences, especially for truck drivers who often are carrying large cargos or hazardous materials.

A statement released by the U.S. Department of Labor called for employers to ban "any work policy or practice that requires or encourages workers to text while driving." Although some states have already enacted bans on texting while driving, the government wants employers to get rid of any incentives that encourage their workers to text while driving in states without the ban. President Obama has already ordered a ban on texting while driving for all federal employees.

Any employers requiring their employees to text while driving will be subject to citations and penalties from the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Further, an official with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration warned employers that the law clearly requires them to provide "a workplace free of recognized hazards."

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood characterized distracted driving as an epidemic, reporting that distracted driving accidents resulted in 5,474 deaths and 448,000 injuries in 2009.

Source: Insideline.com "Distracted-Driving Crackdown by Feds Extends to Workplace" 9/21/10