The nation's top transportation official said Wednesday he supports a ban on texting and e-mailing while driving.
"If it were up to me, I'd outlaw the use of those, and I'm prepared to work with Congress to do that," Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said.
His comments, following several recent high-profile crashes involving distracted drivers, were echoed by a top safety regulator.
"You cannot be texting; you cannot lose focus," said Mark Rosenker, chairman of the National Transportation Safety Administration.
In California, the engineer of a commuter train was texting when he crashed in September, killing 25.
In San Antonio, dramatic video shows a bus driver texting on his cell phone while he crashed into a car in front of him.
A number of cities have outlawed drivers from using cell phones, mainly in school zones, but there is currently no federal law.
