BRAZIL: DEMARCHE ON DISTRACTED DRIVING DELIVERED

UNCLAS BRASILIA 000164 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR OES/S NANCY CARTER-FOSTER E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECON SOCI UNDP UNGA BR SUBJECT: BRAZIL: DEMARCHE ON DISTRACTED DRIVING DELIVERED REF: 2010 STATE 6703 (U) THIS CABLE IS SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED AND NOT FOR INTERNET DISTRIBUTION. ¶1. (SBU) On January 27, Emboffs delivered the Department's demarche on Distracted Driving to representatives of the Ministry of Transportation and the Ministry of Health. While Brazilian law does prohibit texting while driving, as of yet, neither Ministry has expressed an interest in committing the Government of Brazil to international efforts on this issue. ¶2. (SBU) Current Brazilian legislation includes prohibitions that would apply to texting while driving. Specifically, Article 252, Subsection 5 of the Brazilian Transit Code (CONTRAN) prohibits driving with one hand on the steering wheel, which would by extension prohibit activities, such as texting, that require a driver to remove one hand from the steering wheel. However, enforcement of this and other driving regulations by local and federal authorities is inconsistent. ¶3. (SBU) Additionally, the Brazilian legislature is considering a bill, PL 2,872/2008, which would amend Article 252 of CONTRAN; establishing a prohibition against "using a cellular telephone or mobile communications devices." Using such a device would be considered a "grave infraction." The bill is currently being considered in the relevant committees of the lower house. If the lower house approves the bill, it will then move to the Senate for their approval. SHANNON