New distracted driving restrictions on commercial truck and bus drivers

We want the drivers of big rigs and buses and those who share the roads with them to be safe.

So today I’m announcing the latest in a series of actions DOT is taking to curb distracted driving and help make our roads much safer for everyone.

Our Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, led by Administrator Anne Ferro, will prohibit commercial truck and bus drivers from texting with any handheld cellphone or other device that takes a driver’s attention off the road:

"Our regulations will help prevent unsafe activity within the cab, and we want to make it crystal clear that texting is one of those unsafe activities these regulations prohibit."

This policy has serious implications for inter-state drivers who carry cargo or passengers for a living, but we're not trying to deny anyone the opportunity to earn a living at the wheel of a truck or bus.

We’re simply sending a message: when we advise drivers to share the road responsibly, we mean it.

Look, we know that a commercial truck or bus driven by someone texting is a lethal weapon.

Now, in a perfect world, that knowledge would be the end of the story. Sadly, we know it's not. Many of us know the tragic consequences of this behavior firsthand. The rest of us have heard the stories.

When we sponsored the nation’s first summit on distracted driving last fall, we promised to send a clear message that texting and talking while driving are dangerous activities that must stop. And I've been working hard to send that message ever since.

This latest step applies to inter-state truck drivers and commercial bus or van drivers who carry more than eight passengers.

Do you want to put this dangerous behavior in perspective? Researchers at Virginia Tech found that truck drivers who send text messages on a cell phone are about 23 times more likely to get into some type of crash or near-miss than drivers who keep their eyes on the road.

By adding interstate bus operators to the mix, we’re taking an important new step to protect ordinary citizens who rely on their drivers to deliver them safely to their destinations.

So the next time your church group or theater group hops on a bus, you can rest easier knowing their drivers are legally forbidden to take their eyes off the road to send or retrieve a text message.

While we know that all distracted driving laws must depend in part on drivers using their own good judgment and common sense, we also know that penalties act as a deterrent.

So for those who persist in putting their passengers and other travelers at risk, there will be consequences.

Any truck or bus driver who violates the Federal regulations mentioned in this guidance is subject to a penalty up to $2,750.

I’m proud of this ground-breaking effort to help make America’s roadways safer from coast to coast, but we're not done.

In the months ahead, we’ll propose additional legal remedies and develop new tools that will help us work alongside the law enforcement community, safety advocates, researchers, and others, to find new ways to raise awareness and bring an end to the terrible dangers posed by distracted driving.

Drivers texting take their eyes of the road nearly five seconds per message. Close your eyes and count slowly to five. Imagine a truck or bus traveling the length of a football field plus its end zones--unattended. Imagine what can happen with a large truck or a busload of passengers in that time.

And then thank Anne Ferro and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration for trying to prevent it.

Comments

[Suzanne Slama]

I applaud this move. The only thing I think is bizarre? This should be made a law for ALL drivers, not just commercial drivers. And how about the same fine? $2750...? WOW! I don't even think the DUI fine is that much! My husband drives a truck, he is an owner operator and is the main bread winner after I became disabled. That amount is more than 2 months of mortgage payments. Does our government want Americans to loose our homes? How about when he and all the other drivers have to sell their trucks because of the ridiculous fines put on them? How will you get your groceries, gas for your car, parts to fix your car and roads to drive on? I think ALL drivers should have the same penalties, commercial or non-commercial, alike. 1 death is too many, does it really matter the vehicle or bicycle, even?! By the way, my husband does not even know how to text and does not want to learn because he thinks it is dangerous!

[Ray Brandt]

If you like safty then look at the cars and pickups using laptops or reading or have there huddy over head and can not see the cell phone is the line in whinch trucks keep in touch with loved ones of course you do not car you are home every night its just more bull SHIT

Ray Brandt
Albany Or.

[Paul]

I agree with the new law banning texting while driving for commercial drivers, but what about non-commercial drivers. What about the driver I saw the other day, steering with her knees and texting with not one hand , BUT BOTH HANDS. Also,I haven't seen anyone bring up the use of laptops while driving, and that would include law enforcement officers also. I drive a big rig myself, and while I have been guilty of texting myself, I do agree it is not the smart thing to do.

[Lauri Brunson]

Mr.LaHood,
I would REALLY love to talk to you face to face because I have alot that I would like to say about the DOT and commercial vehicles.. My husband is a truck driver and has been for over 25 years, as was my father in law and my father. I am so sick and tired of hearing about when something goes wrong, its the commercial drivers who are at fault. Yes, there are some out there who don't need to be behind the wheel..BUT, they are NOT the only ones at fault Mr LaHood..Yes, I agree with the no texting and cell phone ban 100%, but lets make it for EVERYONE. I would like to know WHY you try to make things harder on commercial drivers? WHY do you always single them out and use them for your examples? Do you not realize that they are the backbone of this country? If it were not for them, the stores would be empty. How do you think the food, clothes, shoes, gas, oil, furniture, etc. gets to the place you buy it from? Just look around, what ever your eyes see, is there because of a "commercial driver", but yet you try your best to make life harder on them.. Why is that Mr LaHood?
I can't tell how many times a day that I see teenagers, grown men and women in CARS, PICKUPS and SUV'S texting and talking on the phone while driving. I have even seen the police and hwy patrol doing it. Do they have to pay the same fines and punishment the commercial drivers have to pay? Just wondering.
If you would like to "respond" to my comments, I would love to hear from you.
Sincerely,
Lauri Brunson

[madison]

Did this go through congress? How do you have the power to just make law. This is extremely unconstitutional. Your whole organization is unconstitutional. I hope somebody takes you down in supreme court. This whole idea of some dude just making up laws needs to be stopped. Not just for the rediculus texting thing, but all the crazy things they put on people. People who are working hard to make a living and keeping the country moving.

[DJM]

For those of you making comments about the unfairness or shortsightedness of this policy applying only to commercial vehicle drivers and not to all motorists, please remember the structure of our nation's government. The federal government is only allowed by our constitution to implement regulations affecting interstate commerce - therefore the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration exists specifically to regulate "commercial vehicles", including heavy trucks and passenger buses. It is up to the individual 50 states to pass laws governing their motorists, and many states have done so (see http://www.distraction.gov/state-laws/ for a list). Secretary LaHood is doing what he can within his power to make the roads safer. If you feel strongly about this issue, please get in touch with your state legislator or Governor's Highway Safety Office.

[Mike Art]

Check this out http://www.autoweek.com/article/20100218/FEEDBACK/100219900! AutoWeek Magazine is making a stand against distracted driving.

[Mack]

Concentration during driving is the easiest way to ignore this type of big accidents.

[Johnny R Jones]

you want to stop distracted driving and i agree it is a problem, but i see not only truckers using the cell phone and texting but i have seen cars and also law enforcement doing the same. I am a trucker and my cell phone is never in use without a hands free device. I was going thru Houston Tx a few days ago and saw a local police officer driving down the road typing on his laptop [WHERE IS THE SAFET IN THAT] you see drivers with laptop stands et up so they can be accesed by the driver and n ot just truckers but driver in all kind of vihicles so yes there is a problem but just targeting trucks is not the total answer

[caleb rivera]

I think that this law is Bull **** It needs to make it so we have freeedom and can do whatever the helll we want because thats why i live in america so i dont have arranged marriages and to make it so i can do anything i want okay so change it please.

[ДСП]

The main cause of accidents is alcohol in the blood ...
I think it is necessary to impose restrictions for drivers with the possibility of the contents of a smaller number per mille in the blood. Well, at least for drivers of buses and trucks

[Adam J. - Dehumidifier Review Specialist]

I think there are a lot more problems here than just distracted bus/truck drivers. Other vehicles on the road need to start being more cautious of trucks/buses by considering the fact that they cannot stop nearly as fast as other vehicles. It is almost daily on my way to work that I see drivers giving trucks no room which can easily cause an accident.

Any chance you could write an article at some point on car drivers who are aggressive toward truck or bus drivers?

[Commercial trucks in usa]

It is really a great decision from government. Now a days there are lots of truck and bus accident taking place due to drivers texting or talking on phone while driving. Those drivers even dont think that if accident takes place many people can die or can seriously get injured or even assest of some poor person can get destroyed.I am glad to here the restriction what government has applied to all drivers to avoid accidents and its my personal request that if any of the drivers are caught texting or talking on phone while driving please take a strict decision against them.
All the best for making more great decision.

Regards.

[Dump trucks]

Nice action,
I think Penalty of $2,750 for playing with innocent people is not enough. DOT must take more strict action against drivers texting while driving as accident while texting is been increasing day by day.
Regards.

[create a free blog]

I am a commercial driver and I never use my phone while driving. But I have seen lots of motorist using cell phones without hands free devices or texting and yet they are still allowed to continue these practices.

[truck rental]

it's great to know that the government is giving enough attention for the welfare of truck drivers as they set wheels on the track. Truck drivers,on the other hand, should also cooperate and be responsible with policies so as to maintain safety for everyone.

http://www.truckrentals.net

[Bla bla bla]

In England , police penalize drivers using phones for 1000 Pounds. Each.
Here , 100 is nothing . Hundreds of drivers using phone on passenger cars and police stopped to fine them

[Brian Gaffney]

The Federal Communications Commision (FCC) in the United States passed regulations requiring that 95% of all cell phones in use in the USA be 911 locatable by December 31, 2005. To be 911 locatable, the phone must have some form of GPS... active.

If there is an active GPS in every cell phone, then it can be determined if that phone is moving. If the phone is moving over say, 15 mph and there is no bluetooth or hands free detected, lock it up.

The satellite communication device in my semi locks up when the vehicle is moving 5mph. I don't text on my phone, it's a phone. I put on my bluetooth headset so I can see clearly and roll down the road, watching all the kids playing Farmville on their IPhones.

Idiocy and I can't wait until some personal injury lawyer decides to add in the cell phone company as a party of interest. They have the money to make a lawyer's dreams come true. But this legislation is extremely one-sided.

Mr. LaHood comes from Peoria, IL. Just down the road in Champaign, a 19 year old admitted to the judge he was texting when he ran down an 84 year old man and killed him. He got fined. Nearly 90% of Teen Drivers Engage in Distracted Driving, Say AAA & Seventeen Magazine survey from August.

How can the Secretary feel good about this? He missed a huge segment of the population that violates his mandate daily. I see from the cab of my truck how dangerous other drivers are. Every day. I want them ALL to stop it. And if they have no hands free phone, make that inoperable too.

[Tippers]

May these regulations help in Road Safety and decrease in accidents. Texting while driving trucks or any other commercial vehicles is unsafe.