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Lobbyist Group Abandons Efforts to Counter Distracted Driving Campaigns

Plans by lobbyist firm the Seward Square Group to counter distracted driving campaigns have been abandoned, according to published reports.

Last week, non-profit publication FairWarning obtained a 10-page presentation by the DRIVE Coalition, Seward's proposed group. The document outlines the group's goal of addressing distracted driving through increased driver education and enforcement, rather than regulations banning mobile technology. DRIVE stands for Drivers for Responsibility, Innovation and Vehicle Education.

"In less than 6 months, a benign debate about teens and texting has morphed into a full-throttle assault on mobile technology," the presentation said. "Auto, tech, and insurance industries, among others, have become collateral damage in this transportation battle. Failure to act will result in a scenario with 51 separate battles, instead of just one where a coalition can lead the debate."

The coalition ceased its efforts after Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood held a press conference Wednesday addressing the group.

"The concept has met its goal of expanding dialogue on distracted driving, therefore the coalition is no longer being pursued," the group told the Washington Post .

In response to FairWarning's initial release of the group's intentions, LaHood said in his blog , "DOT and the safety community will not be stalled by a new effort to rile up corporate America and undermine the achievements of our campaign against distracted driving. Regardless of what a powerful lobbying group has to say, the simple fact is that texting and talking on cell phones behind the wheel is a deadly epidemic."

According to the group's presentation, it was in the process of recruiting manufacturers, wireless providers, car makers, associations, and GPS providers, such as Motorola, Nokia, Apple, Verizon, AT&T, GM, Ford, the Auto Alliance and TomTom, to name a few.

The group also said Jim Hall, former chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board, would be the face of DRIVE. Hall said the group was misrepresented to him, according to the Post . In fact, he stood with LaHood during the press conference, denouncing their efforts.

"The only effort I'm going to have anything to do with is to support Secretary LaHood and these safety advocates," he said.

"Are you really going to tell Jennifer Smith of Texas, who lost her mother, that states should continue to allow drivers to focus on their cell phones and not on the road in front of them?," LaHood said in his blog. "Well, I won't do that. And real safety advocates won't do that. When it comes to safety, this DOT is holding firm."

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