The “Drive Coalition”, an effort by lobbyists to re-shape proposed legislation relating to distracted driving, has fallen apart.

The group was formed by a Washington lobby firm called the Seward Square Group. Their intention was to rally support from mobile device makers, car manufacturers and others to fight federal and state laws aimed at prohibiting motorists from talking and sending text messages while driving.

Their lobbying effort provoked the anger of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, who held a press conference decrying an effort he said was a threat to driver safety.

Soon after the press conference, the lobbying group announced it was pulling the plug on the coalition.

See the NY Times article here: http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/07/07/lobbyists-scrap-plans-for-distracted-driving-coalition/