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. <-- L15L80DMS/20000S0127R1865 - 2 -