Ban on Texting and Driving for Truckers and Bus Drivers
Ban on Texting and Driving for Truckers and Bus Drivers by Texas 18-Wheeler and Trucking Accident Attorney Justin A. Hill
Trucking accidents, busing accidents and vehicle accidents caused by or related to drivers texting and driving have become commonplace. Some literature has concluded that texting and driving is more dangerous than drinking and driving and even more hazardous when truckers engage in such activities. A CNN article from the summer of 2009 states:
Truckers who text while driving are 23 times more likely to crash or get into a near-wreck than an undistracted driver, while car drivers face the greatest danger when dialing their cell phones, a transportation study found. The likelihood of a crash due to cell-phone use disproportionately affected truckers in comparison with car drivers, according to the study by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute. When dialing, the chance of an accident for a truck driver is 5.9 times more likely versus 2.8 times more likely for a car driver, the study found. If a trucker reaches for an electronic device, the crash risk is 6.7 times as high, while the risk for a car driver is 1.4 times as high, it showed. Truckers only fared better while talking or listening on a cell phone, with the increased risk one time more likely compared with 1.3 times for a car driver.
More can be found by reading NHTSA’s study regarding the safety of using wireless communication devices while driving.
Not only has the federal government and other safety organizations taken notice, but the driving public is also increasingly aware of the dangers of texting and driving, and states, cities, and municipalities across the nation are taking action to ban texting while driving. Now, the federal government has finally taken a large first step in addressing this problem. According to the WashingtonPost:
On [January 26, 2010], the federal government formally barred truckers and bus drivers from sending text messages while behind the wheel, putting its imprimatur on a prohibition embraced by many large trucking and transportation companies. “We want the drivers of big rigs and buses and those who share the roads with them to be safe,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “This is an important safety step, and we will be taking more to eliminate the threat of distracted driving” LaHood has made the effort to curtail driver distractions a centerpiece of his tenure as the nation’s top transportation official. Some saw his announcement as a step that might ultimately fuel a push to ban cellphone use by all drivers. LaHood’s announcement followed a study released in July by Virginia Tech’s Transportation Institute that found that when truckers text, they are 23 times more likely to be involved in a crash or close call. Also [on January 26, 2010] , a group of senators unveiled legislation that seeks to bar all texting while driving
This is a large positive step forward in automotive safety. SaferAutomobiles has covered this topic before here and here. If someone you know was injured or killed as the result of an 18-wheeler accident, big rig accident or tractor-trailer accident, encourage them to immediately contact a competent attorney for advice. It is extremely important to do this quickly to ensure that evidence is preserved, statements are taken, and the rights of all claimants are protected.
