Ban On Truck And Bus Drivers Texting While Driving l Bellevue Accident Attorney

Everyone knows texting on their cell phones while driving is dangerous but many people do it anyway. 
Research by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has shown that drivers that send and receive text messages take their eyes off the road for an average of 4.6 seconds out of every 6 seconds while texting.  This means that a vehicle traveling at 55 miles per hour will travel the length of a football field (including end zones), without looking at the road.

It is so dangerous that 19 states and the District of Columbia have prohibit all drivers from texting behind the wheel and 10 other states restrict texting by novice drivers.

Today (January 26, 2010) the US Transportation Department began prohibiting truck and bus drivers from sending text messages on hand-held devices while operating commercial vehicles.

The prohibition applies to drivers of interstate buses and trucks over 10,000 pounds.  The ban is effective immediately. Truck and bus drivers that text while driving a commercial vehicle may be subject to civil or criminal penalties of up to $2,750.

Trucking and bus industry officials said they support the texting ban.
President Barack Obama signed an executive order directing federal employees not to engage in text messaging while driving government-owned vehicles or with government-owned equipment. That ban took effect on Dec. 30, 2009.

See NPR's coverage of this breaking story: Government Bans Texting By Truck & Bus Drivers

Check out these other stories about texting and driving in our Car Accident Law Library.

Texting Drivers Six Times More Likely to Crash

More research on dangers of texting while driving and car accidents

Reading text messages while driving a car increases the likelihood of a car accident

Is Driving While Texting Or Talking Really Worth The Risk Of A Serious Car Accident

Cell Phone Texting And Driving Kills 16-year old girl