'On road, off phone:' Order bans texting while driving

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Amanda Dick
  • 86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany --  Driving to work, you hear the sound of a new text message on your phone and are now faced with a decision -- to text back or not to text?

For federal employees, to include military, Department of Defense civilians and contractors, the answer is simple ... not to text back.

According to an executive order by President Barack Obama in October 2009, he issued the following decree: "A Federal Government-wide prohibition on the use of text messaging while driving on official business or while using Government-supplied equipment."

Additionally, Air Force Instruction 91-207 Traffic Safety Program does state drivers are not allowed to use cell phones without a hands-free device on or off base.

According to Master Sgt. Eric Peterson, 86th Security Forces Squadron police services NCOIC, this applies to texting as well, and violators who are pulled over for texting while driving will be ticketed in compliance with the AFI.

Drivers face similar regulations off base, said Wolfgang Denzer, Westpfalz Police Headquarters in Kaiserslautern. Motorists face a 40€ fine (bicyclists a 25€ fine) if caught using a cell phone without a hands-free device, including texting.

However, it's not an issue of money; it's more importantly an issue of safety.

"When you get a text and respond, it takes the focus away from driving, and you're not seeing what's going on in front of you," said Tech. Sgt. James Leonard, 86th Airlift Wing Safety noncommissioned officer in charge of ground safety inspections. "We've all been there when we ask ourselves if we should respond, but if someone responds to a message; their focus is away from the road. Something pops out in front of them, and they lose control."

This is exactly the motivation behind the texting ban.

"Text messaging causes drivers to take their eyes off the road and at least one hand off the steering wheel, endangering both themselves and others," the order said.

The executive order also stated the ban "will help save lives, reduce injuries and set an example for state and local governments, private employers and individual drivers."

The National Safety Council announced in a release earlier this year at least 28 percent of car accidents, or 1.6 million accidents, were caused by drivers who were using cell phones and texting.

Also, according to a recent National Highway Traffic Safety Administration study, drivers with a .08 breath alcohol content were "four times more likely to get into an accident than a sober driver," and drivers who text while driving are eight times as likely to get into an accident. The NHTSA also stated use of a wireless device was the number one source of driver distraction.

In this day and age, texting encompasses so much more than just with a cell phone.

"'Texting' or 'Text Messaging' means reading from or entering data into any handheld or other electronic device, including for the purpose of SMS texting, e-mailing, instant messaging, obtaining navigational information or engaging in any other form of electronic data retrieval or electronic data communication," the order said.

To help spread the safety message, Ramstein's wing safety office conducts various traffic safety courses, including Course 3-A "Introduction to traffic safety," Course 3-B "Advance traffic safety," and traffic safety guidance at the newcomer's briefings, Sergeant Leonard said.

For more information, contact the safety office at 480-7233 or visit http://info.howcast.com/onroadoffphone or http://www.distraction.gov/.