Feds propose hand-held cell phone ban for commercial drivers
December 23, 2010 by Fred HosierPosted in: cell phones and safety, In this week's e-newsletter, Latest News & Views, Transportation safety, What do you think?
PDF Earlier this year, the federal government banned commercial truck and bus drivers from texting while driving. The crackdown on using cell phones while driving may now go one or two steps further.
A newly proposed rule would prohibit drivers in commercial motor vehicles (CMV) from using hand-held cell phones.
Specifically, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) proposes prohibiting commercial drivers from reaching for, holding or dialing a cell phone while operating a CMV.
Drivers would face penalties of up to $2,750 for each offense and disqualification of their commercial driver’s license. Motor carriers that allow their drivers to use cell phones behind the wheel could face maximum fines of $11,000.
FMCSA research shows commercial drivers reaching for an object, such as a cell phone, while driving are three times more likely to be involved in a crash. Drivers dialing a hand-held phone are six times more likely to crash.
The proposal also calls for comment on whether use of hands-free phones while driving a CMV should also be banned.
The wording of the proposed rule has some groups concerned.
Joe Rajkovacz, Director of Regulatory Affairs for the Owner Operator Independent Drivers Association, has concerns about the ban on reaching for a phone. Rajkovacz calls it “arbitrary and capricious,” adding “It opens up potential abuse on the part of law enforcement to use that as an ‘I gotcha’ against a driver. The law needs to be more specific than that.”
A 60-day comment period of the proposal ends Feb. 22, 2011.
Nearly 5,000 people died and half a million were injured in crashes involving a distracted driver in 2009.
What do you think of the feds’ proposal? Let us know in the Comments Box below.
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Tags: commercial motor vehicle, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, hand-held cell phone ban
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December 28th, 2010 at 11:21 am
There certianly seems to be a need to stop hand held cellphone usage by “big rig” drivers howerver they have been using CB’s for several years without the gov. passing laws to make it illegal, the real problem is that since everone has a smartphone now the problem is widespead and the focus should be on ANY driver using a handheld device while driving.
December 28th, 2010 at 11:35 am
I totally agree with banning the use of all hand held devices while driving. However I feel that the ban should include all vehicles and drivers. With today’s technology there is no reason why companies, and even private owners cannot equip their vehicles with totally hands free communication devices. If you want the convenience of talking on the go, install totally hands free, or shut up!
December 29th, 2010 at 2:48 pm
As a safety man for trucking operations , i think cdl drivers are being singled out again . If the feds want to ban cell phones while driving it should be for everyone who holds a drivers license . Also while there adding that to list for regular drivers lets throw in a background check when its time to renew .
January 4th, 2011 at 10:32 am
It’s too much…too much control…too much trying to regulate…too much skewing the statistics…too much government…Companies should set the reasonable rules for their drivers and hold them accountable. Companies should be more prudent in setting expectations for drivers to use reasonable and necessary safety measures. Some try, some do. Individuals should be as prudent and reasonable. We do not need any more government regulation…we actually should have less.
January 4th, 2011 at 10:55 am
I agree with banning the use of all hand held devices while driving for everyone who holds a drivers license both CDL & non CDL also Smoking how many accidents have been caused by some dropping an ash or cigarette in there vehicle?
January 4th, 2011 at 12:27 pm
I think that there is a time for driving and a time for cell phones and that the two mixed together are a dangerous combo!
Anyone with the privilage to have a license or a CDL to operate a vehicle should be banned from using a cell phone while operating the said vehicle.
January 4th, 2011 at 2:05 pm
Too much Government? Absolutely! Since one law usually leads to another, how long before we address tuning your radio, talking to a passenger or drinking a soda. Actually, reading road signs is a distraction. Compromise between no and total regulation would be allowing only hands free devices. But why only regulate the trained professional?
January 14th, 2011 at 8:34 pm
How little peaple forget, did we forget what happned in 1973, when trucking was requlated by the government realy bad. Maybe peaple should check there history books. What happend to equal rights for all. This sure sounds like discrimanation to me. Maybe all the truckers should get together and file there owen law suit for discrimanation.