Group Recommends Ban on Driver Cell Phone Use
Here's the 411 from the National Traffic Safety Board, plus a look at this week's road closures courtesy of the Missouri Department of Transportation.
What's a bigger traffic troublemaker than a driver/texter/talker? Not much, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said this week.
An August 2010 collision on Interstate 44 in Gray Summit, MO, killed two and injured 35. One driver was "most likely distracted from the driving task by a text-messaging conversation at or near the time of the accident," according to the NTSB.
The national board is recommending that every state ban the non-emergency use of portable electronic devices for all drivers. Do you agree? Take our poll below!
Here's a look at this week's road closures, courtesy of the Missouri Department of Transportation:
Eastbound Interstate 64
In downtown St. Louis, all lanes on eastbound I-64 from Jefferson to 6th Street will close this weekend. The closures will occur from 8 p.m. Friday until 8 p.m. Sunday for bridge work. Motorists are urged to use Jefferson to I-44 as a detour to get downtown.
Pine Street, Forest Park and Ewing
The eastbound ramps at Pine Street, Forest Park and Ewing will close at 7 p.m. Friday until 8 p.m. Sunday.
Broadway and 10th Street
On westbound I-64, the Broadway or the 10th Street entrance ramps will close from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. both Saturday and Sunday. Either ramp closure depends on if the left or right lane on westbound I-64 is closed. Both ramps will not be closed at the same time.
Striping to continue on Interstate 270
Crews will continue striping both northbound and southbound lanes of I-270 between I-70 and Olive Boulevard daily from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., weather permitting.
On-going closures
- Interstate 70, St. Louis City, right lane on eastbound I-70 closed from St. Louis Avenue to Broadway until summer 2012.
- I-64, St. Louis City, eastbound 11th Street exit ramp closed weekdays 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- I-70, St. Louis City, express lanes are closed until mid-December.
- I-70, St. Louis City, the ramp from eastbound I-70 to 10th Street has permanently closed.
- Grand Boulevard, St. Louis City, closed from I-64 to Chouteau by St. Louis City until mid 2012.
