Driving while texting

Shipmates,
We know that maintaining situational awareness is one of the keys to safe operations. Each year we seem to learn more about the dangers of distractions while driving. With the emergence of text messaging over the last decade and now the easy availability of full featured mobile devices our concern has focused on the use of these devices while driving.

If you have never considered the forces involved in getting and keeping a motor vehicle in motion please do. While most of us drive every day it is easy to forget just how dangerous it can be.

Beyond the expected compliance with this ALCOAST while assigned to duty, please extend this into your non-Coast Guard behavior. When conducting operations and other Coast Guard activities we continually seek to manage, reduce and where possible eliminate risk factors -- please do so on the road and reduce or eliminate the risks associated with any behavior which draws your attention away from operating your vehicle.


R 111656Z JAN 10 ZUI ASN-AM1011000042
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC//CG-00//
TO ALCOAST
BT
UNCLAS //N05102//
ALCOAST 012/10
COMDTNOTE 5102
SUBJ: TEXTING WHILE OPERATING A MOTOR VEHICLE GENERAL ORDER
A. EXECUTIVE ORDER 13513, FEDERAL LEADERSHIP ON REDUCING TEXTING
WHILE DRIVING
B. CIVILIAN PERSONNEL ACTIONS: DISCIPLINE, PERFORMANCE, ADVERSE
ACTIONS, APPEALS, AND GRIEVANCES, COMDTINST M12750.4 (SERIES)
C. NONAPPROPRIATED FUND (NAF) PERSONNEL MANUAL, COMDTINST M12271.1
(SERIES)
D. COAST GUARD AUXILIARY MANUAL, COMDTINST M16790.1 (SERIES)
E. SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH MANUAL, COMDTINST M5100.47
(SERIES) CH10
1. IN AN EFFORT TO REDUCE THE DANGERS OF TEXTING WHILE DRIVING, THE
PRESIDENT ISSUED REFERENCE (A) WHICH MANDATES A FEDERAL GOVERNMENT-
WIDE PROHIBITION ON THE USE OF TEXTING MESSAGES WHILE DRIVING ON
OFFICIAL BUSINESS OR WHILE USING GOVERNMENT-SUPPLIED EQUIPMENT.
EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY REFERENCE (A) WILL BE IMPLEMENTED COAST GUARD
WIDE AS FOLLOWS:
 A. ALL CIVILIAN AND MILITARY MEMBERS, INCLUDING RESERVISTS IN AN
 ACTIVE STATUS INCLUDING IDT AND ADT, AND COAST GUARD AUXILIARISTS
 WHEN ASSIGNED TO DUTY, ARE ORDERED NOT TO READ, TYPE OR SEND TEXT
 MESSAGES OR E-MAIL WHEN DRIVING A GOVERNMENT OWNED VEHICLE, WHEN
 DRIVING A PRIVATE MOTOR VEHICLE WHILE ON OFFICIAL GOVERNMENT
 BUSINESS, OR WHEN USING ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT SUPPLIED BY THE
 GOVERNMENT.
 B. MILITARY MEMBERS: THIS ORDER IS PUNITIVE IN NATURE AND FAILURE
 TO FOLLOW THIS ORDER CAN RESULT IN DISCIPLINARY ACTION UNDER
 ARTICLE 92 OF THE UCMJ.
 C. CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES, INCLUDING NONAPPROPRIATED FUND EMPLOYEES:
 FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THIS REQUIREMENT MAY RESULT IN DISCIPLINARY
 ACTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH REFERENCES (B) AND (C).
 D. AUXILIARISTS: FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THIS REQUIREMENT MAY
 RESULT IN ADMINISTRATIVE DISCIPLINARY ACTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH
 REFERENCE (E).
 E. EXCEPTIONS TO THIS ORDER: PERSONNEL MAY USE ELECTRONIC DEVICES
 IF THEIR VEHICLE IS SAFELY PARKED OR, FOR EMERGENCY AND LAW
 ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL: THE MESSAGES ARE CRITICAL TO SUCCESSFUL
 MISSION EXECUTION, STOPPING/PARKING THE VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE OR
 REASONABLE, AND THE MESSAGES ARE SENT/RECEIVED WHILE PERFORMING
 THEIR OFFICIAL DUTIES (E.G., INCLUDING THE USE OF IN-CAR MOBILE
 DATA TERMINALS AND OTHER IN-CAR ELECTRONIC DEVICES).
 F. FOR THE PURPOSE OF LINE OF DUTY/MISCONDUCT DETERMINATIONS, FAILURE
 TO TAKE PROPER VEHICULAR SAFETY PRECAUTIONS, INCLUDING COMPLYING
 WITH THIS ORDER, WILL BE CONSIDERED AS AN OF THE POTENTIALLY
 SEVERAL FACTORS DURING LINE OF DUTY/MISCONDUCT DETERMINATION.
 ALTHOUGH A MEMBERS FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THIS ORDER WILL NOT CREATE
 AN AUTOMATIC PRESUMPTION OF MISCONDUCT OR CAUSATION, A DETERMINATION
 OF NOT OF IMPORTANT FINANCIAL AND OTHER BENEFITS TO THE SERVICE MEMBER
 AND/OR THE SERVICE MEMBERS FAMILY.
2. THE CONTENTS OF THIS ALCOAST, INCLUDING THE PUNITIVE ASPECT OF
IT, SHALL BE INCORPORATED IN A FUTURE CHANGE TO REFERENCE (D).
3. ADMIRAL THAD ALLEN, COMMANDANT, SENDS.
4. INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.
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