Feds urge cell phone ban for all commercial drivers
September 16, 2011 by Fred HosierPosted in: cell phones and safety, In this week's e-newsletter, Latest News & Views, New rules and regulations, Transportation safety, What do you think?
PDF A transportation advisory board is recommending that all commercial drivers be forbidden from using cell phones while driving, whether the devices are hand-held or hands-free.
The recommendation from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) comes in connection with a report on a truck crash in March 2011 that killed 11 people in Kentucky.
A truck driver crossed a 65-foot median, went through a cable barrier and hit a passenger van. The truck driver and 10 of the 12 people in the van were killed.
The NTSB found that the truck driver was on his cell phone at the time of the crash, had made four calls in the minutes before the crash, and had used the cell 69 times while driving during the previous 24 hours.
The Department of Transportation proposed a rule last December to prohibit commercial drivers from talking on cell phones. The proposal is in the public comments phase. A ban on texting for commercial drivers already exists.
Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has described himself as “on a rampage” about drivers using cell phones.
Thirty-four states, the District of Columbia, and Guam ban text messaging for all drivers. Twelve of these laws were enacted in 2010 alone.
Nine states, the District of Columbia, and the Virgin Islands prohibit all drivers from using handheld cell phones while driving.
Should commercial drivers be banned from using cell phones? Should the ban extend to all drivers? Does your company have a policy on cell phones while driving? Let us know what you think in the comments below.
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Tags: cell phone ban, Department of Transportation, Kentucky bus crash, NTSB, Ray LaHood, texting ban
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September 20th, 2011 at 8:07 am
Answer me this…how can hands free be a problem? i agree with the no use of hand held device, then ban CB radios also…they are a distraction as well…where do you draw the limits of common sense…it isn’t just truck drivers it is all drivers. I think that they have to be able to communicate with their employers….also what about police who are on computers in their car while driving….I mean come on…where are we going to draw the line..no eating while driving…no dogs in your lap while driving…the list could go on and on
September 20th, 2011 at 8:40 am
All phone usage should be banned while operating a motorized vehicle. The vehicle you are in control of weighs more than a half of a ton and at 75 miles an hour is just as deadly as a gun sometimes more so!! This activity should require all of your attention period no exceptions. How many innocent people have to die to get this message across??? I would also like to see installed in cell phones a limiter that automatically stops a phone from connecting while it is traveling at any speed over 5 mph. This can be done using the GPS system already installed int the phone!
Any takers phone companies????
September 20th, 2011 at 8:54 am
I’m all for safety on the road but this is getting ridiculous! YES, ABSOLUTELY NO TEXTING WHILE DRIVING but talking on a cell phone? C’mon. What’s next then? Outlaw the truckers from using a CB radio and what about eating fast food while driving? What about pens/pencils/notepads and maps in the vehicle? While the Feds are at it, let’s outlaw FM radios too so nobody will be trying to find a good station. And if we really want to take this seriously, let’s outlaw any passengers from being in the vehicles too so nobody will be distracted having a conversation. Common sense needs to apply here and driver education. Yes, outlaw texting, but after that it’s a very slippery slope because many day-to-day activities ALL drivers do cross into the “distracted driving” arena.
September 20th, 2011 at 8:57 am
NO on the ban as long as they use hands free. It’s like talking to someone in the seat beside you. Are we going to ban that next? All drivers, including police, should use hands free. There should definately be no texting by anyone while driving.
September 20th, 2011 at 11:40 am
I like the idea of banning all phone calls on cell phones that are moving faster than 5-10mph.