PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 1620 PRINTER'S NO. 1865
No. 127 Session of 2000
INTRODUCED BY CONTI, THOMPSON, WAGNER, HELFRICK, HOLL,
SALVATORE, COSTA, DENT, BELL, GERLACH, MOWERY, TOMLINSON,
WENGER, BRIGHTBILL, LEMMOND, BOSCOLA AND MELLOW,
JANUARY 26, 2000
SENATOR MADIGAN, TRANSPORTATION, AS AMENDED, APRIL 11, 2000
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
1 Directing the Joint State Government Commission to study and
2 make recommendations concerning the issue of highway safety
3 and driver distractions, including communications technology,
4 electronic entertainment and other nontechnological
5 distractions.
6 WHEREAS, There are many opportunities for driver distractions
7 while operating a motor vehicle, including, but not limited to,
8 communications technology, electronic entertainment, fatigue,
9 reading, food and beverage consumption and passengers, including
10 children and pets; and
11 WHEREAS, Persons who use Pennsylvania highways pay, through
12 registration fees or the liquid fuels tax, for highway
13 maintenance and construction; and
14 WHEREAS, The General Assembly has a responsibility to the
15 taxpayers to ensure that the public roads and highways are as
16 safe as possible by enacting enforceable traffic safety laws;
17 therefore be it
18 RESOLVED (the House of Representatives concurring), That the
1 Senate direct the Joint State Government Commission:
2 (1) To study and develop recommendations concerning the
3 issue of highway safety and driver distractions, including
4 communications technology and electronic entertainment such
5 as wireless telephones, pagers, facsimile machines, locator
6 devices, AM/FM radios, compact disc players, audio cassette
7 players, citizens band radios and dispatch radios, and all
8 other forms of nontechnological distractions.
9 (2) To review and analyze studies and statistics
10 relating to all types of driver distractions which affect
11 highway and traffic safety.
12 (3) To inquire into innovative communications
13 technologies being used or proposed to be used in motor
14 vehicles that may help alleviate risks to highway and traffic
15 safety.
16 (4) To develop recommendations for public and private
17 strategies and recommendations for legislative or regulatory
18 action if deemed appropriate to address these issues;
19 and be it further
20 RESOLVED, That the Department of Transportation and the
21 Pennsylvania State Police assist the Joint State Government
22 Commission in supplying and gathering statistics relating to all
23 types of driver distractions which affect highway and traffic
24 safety in this Commonwealth; and be it further
25 RESOLVED, That the Joint State Government Commission make an
26 interim report on its findings and recommendations to the
27 General Assembly on July DECEMBER 1, 2000, and a final report on <--
28 December 1, 2000 2001. <--
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