Distracted Drivers: Federal employees banned from texting while driving

Federal employees will no longer be allowed to send text messages while driving government vehicles or when driving their own cars and using cellphones paid for by the government, according to an executive order signed Wednesday night by President Obama.

The order also precludes federal employees using their personal hand-held devices from sending text messages while driving on government business.

Separately, the federal government plans to ban text messaging by bus drivers and truckers who travel across state lines, and may also preclude that group from using cellphones while driving, except in cases of emergency.