Federal Government Wants Permanent Ban on Truck/Bus Texting
In a previous posting, we discussed how texting and driving don’t mix, and that if the texter is a commercial trucker or bus driver, the consequences can be especially deadly. For that reason we at Young and Young applaud the permanent texting ban proposed for large truck operators and bus drivers by the U.S. Transportation Department. Interim rules prohibiting mobile texting in commercial vehicles went into effect in January, but Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood wants to make the ban permanent. The federal rulemaking initiative to do just that “keeps our commitment to making our roads safer by reducing the threat of distracted driving,” he said. LaHood’s stated long-term goal is to outlaw all forms of wireless operation on the roads.
On his blog, Secretary LaHood explains that Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration research indicates that texting motorists take their eyes off the road for an average of 4.6 seconds out of every 6 seconds , and that at 55 miles per hour, that 4.6 seconds is enough time to cover the length of an entire football field including both end zones. “Now, imagine a truck or bus hurtling that distance at that speed with a driver whose attention is not on the road ahead. I think you can see that there would be consequences,” the secretary added.
The proposed rules for the commercial texting ban were published in the April 1 edition of the Federal Register as required by federal government procedures. The deadline for public input is May 3. To learn more about the specifics of the proposal and even to file formal comments, go to Regulation Room.
If you have been injured by a texting truck or bus driver, or even by someone texting behind the wheel in a passenger car, please call Young and Young in Indianapolis for a free consultation. We have 55 years of experience to help you and your family obtain full compensation for injuries caused by distracted drivers, regardless of the cause of the distraction, on Indiana roads.