Senator Fuschillo to Hold Public Hearing on Distracted Driving

          Senator Charles J. Fuschillo, Jr. (R-Merrick), Chairman of the Senate’s Transportation Committee, announced that he will be holding a public hearing to examine the National Transportation Safety Board’s (NTSB) recent report on distracted driving and explore how New York State can better prevent distracted driving on its roadways. The hearing will be held on Monday, February 13th at 10 am in Hearing Room A of the State Legislative Office Building in Albany.

          “Distracted driving is a major danger on our roadways. While New York State has enacted stronger distracted driving laws over the last several years, we need to continue to examine what steps New York State can take to make our roads safer.” said Senator Fuschillo.

          The hearing will examine a December report issued by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) about actions states should take to further prevent distracted driving crashes, injuries, and fatalities. Discussion will include, but will not be limited to: whether New York State’s current distracted driving laws should be strengthened; how enforcement of distracted driving laws can be enhanced; how New York State can better educate drivers about the dangers of distracted driving; and how current driver education requirements can be enhanced so that young drivers learn about the dangers of distracted driving at early age.

          According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), over 5,400 people were killed and an estimated 448,000 were injured nationwide in crashes involving distracted driving in 2009.

          Officials from state and federal transportation agencies, as well as other scientific experts who have researched the impacts that distractions have on a driver’s abilities, will be invited to testify.

          Members of the public are welcome to attend the hearing and submit written testimony. Oral testimony is by invitation only.