Earlier this month, the U.S. Department of Transportation proposed a new rule that would ban interstate commercial truck and bus drivers from using hand-held cell phones while operating a commercial motor vehicle.   Violators would face fines up to $2,750 per offense and multiple offenses could result in suspension of their commercial driver's license (CDL). 

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration research shows that using a hand-held cell phone while driving requires a commercial driver to take several risky steps. In particular, commercial drivers reaching for an object, such as a cell phone, while driving are three times more likely to be involved in a crash or other safety-critical event. Drivers dialing a hand-held cell phone while driving increase their risk by six times. Many of the largest carriers, such as UPS, Covenant Transport, and Wal-Mart, already have company policies in place banning their drivers from using hand-held phones. In September 2010, FMCSA issued a regulation banning text messaging while operating a commercial motor vehicle.
Nearly 5,500 people died and half a million were injured in crashes involving a distracted driver in 2009. Distraction-related fatalities represented 16 percent of overall traffic fatalities in 2009, according to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) research.

FMCSA is providing 60 days for the public to comment on this rulemaking. The comment period begins once the proposed rule is published in the Federal Register. The proposal and information about how to submit comments is here.

I would encourage everyone to take 5 minutes and go to the comment section of the FMSCA website and voice your support for this safety rule.  Distracted driving contributed to half a million people being injured in 2009 and almost 5,500 being killed.