News
Truckers Banned from Texting, More Restrictions to Come
WASHINGTON, D.C. — More bans on texting while driving will follow Tuesday’s federal ban on texting by commercial truck drivers, said U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood in a statement. It is part of a massive government crackdown on distracted driving that began last fall.
“We want the drivers of big rigs and buses and those who share the road with them to be safe,” said LaHood. “This is an important safety step, and we will be taking more to eliminate the threat of distracted driving.”
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration “is also working on additional regulatory measures that will be announced in the coming months,” said the U.S. Department of Transportation in a statement.
Truck and bus drivers who text while driving commercial vehicles may be subject to civil or criminal penalties of up to $2,750. Federal research shows that drivers who send and receive text messages take their eyes off the road for an average of 4.6 seconds out of every six seconds while texting. Drivers who text while driving are more than 20 times more likely to get into an accident than non-distracted drivers.
Inside Line says: You’re next. — Anita Lienert, Correspondent
0 Comments.