PRINTER'S NO. 1620
No. 127 Session of 2000
INTRODUCED BY CONTI, THOMPSON, WAGNER, HELFRICK, HOLL,
SALVATORE, COSTA, DENT, BELL, GERLACH, MOWERY, TOMLINSON,
WENGER, BRIGHTBILL, LEMMOND AND BOSCOLA, JANUARY 26, 2000
REFERRED TO TRANSPORTATION, JANUARY 26, 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
19 Senate direct the Joint State Government Commission:
1 (1) To study and develop recommendations concerning the
2 issue of highway safety and driver distractions, including
3 communications technology and electronic entertainment such
4 as wireless telephones, pagers, facsimile machines, locator
5 devices, AM/FM radios, compact disc players, audio cassette
6 players, citizens band radios and dispatch radios, and all
7 other forms of nontechnological distractions.
8 (2) To review and analyze studies and statistics
9 relating to all types of driver distractions which affect
10 highway and traffic safety.
11 (3) To inquire into innovative communications
12 technologies being used or proposed to be used in motor
13 vehicles that may help alleviate risks to highway and traffic
14 safety.
15 (4) To develop recommendations for public and private
16 strategies and recommendations for legislative or regulatory
17 action if deemed appropriate to address these issues;
18 and be it further
19 RESOLVED, That the Department of Transportation and the
20 Pennsylvania State Police assist the Joint State Government
21 Commission in supplying and gathering statistics relating to all
22 types of driver distractions which affect highway and traffic
23 safety in this Commonwealth; and be it further
24 RESOLVED, That the Joint State Government Commission make an
25 interim report on its findings and recommendations to the
26 General Assembly on July 1, 2000, and a final report on December
27 1, 2000.
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