Resolve, To Examine Issues Related to Distracted Driving

Sec. 1. Department of Public Safety to study distracted driving and motor vehicle accidents. Resolved: That the Department of Public Safety shall analyze available data, including data generated from its planned upgrades of crash reports that will include fields for specific distractions and any other relevant data that may be available to the department, to determine the role various types of distractions play in motor vehicle accidents. The Department of Public Safety shall also develop recommendations for strengthening laws related to distracted driving; and be it further

Sec. 2. Reports. Resolved: That the Department of Public Safety shall submit an interim report, including any data collected pursuant to section 1 and its analysis of that data together with recommended legislation to strengthen laws related to distracted driving, to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over transportation matters by January 15, 2009. The department shall provide a final report on the data collected pursuant to section 1 and its analysis of that data together with any further recommended legislation related to distracted driving to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over transportation matters by January 15, 2010. The joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over transportation matters may submit legislation related to the department’s reports to the First Regular Session and the Second Regular Session of the 124th Legislature.