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Friday, September 30, 2011

Dep't of Transportation may ban all commercial drivers from using cellphones while driving

A crash earlier this year in Kentucky may lead to a comprehensive ban on cellphone use for commercial drivers.  Since December of last year the Dep't of Transportation has considered implementing a ban on all handheld cellphone for the 3 million drivers of tractor trailers and other commercial vehicles.

The Kentucky crash killed 10 people and cellphone records of the truck driver demonstrated that he had used his cell phone 4 times in the minutes before the crash, the last call coming just as his truck left the freeway and crossed the median, going through the cable barrier and hitting a passenger van head on.

Earlier this month, federal safety investigators broadened their recommendations on cellphones and said all commercial drivers should be forbidden to use them, whether hand-held or not, except in emergencies.

“Distracted driving is becoming increasingly prevalent, exacerbating the danger we encounter daily on our roadways,” said the chairwoman of the safety board, Deborah A. P. Hersman. “It can be especially lethal when the distracted driver is at the wheel of a vehicle that weighs 40 tons and travels at highway speeds.” Mr. LaHood referred to such trucks as “80,000-pound unguided missiles.”

You can view the proposed cellphone rule here,  http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/rules-regulations/administration/rulemakings/rule-programs/rule_making_details.aspx?ruleid=324