NWRA sent a letter to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) urging support for the use of existing technology to prevent distracted driving. The bipartisan infrastructure bill requires new passenger vehicles to include drunk/impaired driving prevention technology.
“We applaud Congress for taking the step to mandate certain technology in vehicles to reduce drunk driving,” said NWRA President and CEO Darrell Smith. “We urge NHTSA to take the next step and support similar measures that would combat distracted driving caused by the use of mobile phones.”
Apple, Inc. received a patent in 2014 that limits the usage of an iPhone by the person in the driver’s seat of a vehicle. Apple noted the danger these devices present relative to distracted driving in its patent application.
NWRA has sought federal action to regulate mobile devices in order to prevent distracted driving. NWRA has met with the Consumer Product Safety Commission to address safety concerns regarding the dangers that mobile phones and distracted driving present to highway users in general and waste and recycling collection workers specifically. NWRA previously filed a Freedom of Information Act request with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration seeking all communications between NHTSA and Big Tech. The Association is also asking NHTSA to produce any interagency correspondence between NHTSA and other federal entities on the subject.