Summary
The Avoiding Life-Endangering and Reckless Texting by Drivers Act of 2009 (Alert Drivers Act) has been introduced in both the House and Senate. The bills (S. 1536 and H.R. 3535) would reduce federal highway funding available to states that do not enact a law prohibiting an individual from sending or receiving text messages while operating a motor vehicle. If this legislation is enacted and states fail to comply, they could lose up to $4.4 billion annually in funding from three major federal-aid highway programs.