The US Department of Transportation released a final rule specifically prohibiting interstate truck and bus drivers from using hand-held cell phones while operating their vehicles.
Violators of the rule will face federal civil penalties of up to $2,750 for each offense and disqualification from operating a commercial motor vehicle for multiple offenses. Companies that permit their drivers to use hand-held cell phones while they drive will face a maximum penalty of $11,000.
The joint rule, which comes from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), is the latest effort by the DOT to stop distracted driving. In September 2010, the FMCSA banned text messaging while operating a commercial truck or bus. The PHMSA banned texting by intrastate hazardous materials drivers in February 2011.
According to the Department, nearly 5,474 people died and half a million were injured in crashes involving a distracted driver in 2009, with distraction-related facilities representing 16 percent of overall fatalities in 2009.
FMCSA research specifically related to distracted driving in commercial drivers reveals that commercial drivers reaching for an object, such as a cell phone, are three times more likely to be involved in a crash or other safety-critical event. Dialing a hand-held cell phone makes it six times more likely that commercial drivers will be involved in a crash or other safety-critical event, the agency said.
The Department said that many large truck and bus companies, including UPS, Covenant Transport, Wal-Mart, Peter Pan and Greyhound, already have company policies in place that prohibit their drivers from using hand-held phones.
“This final rule represents a giant leap for safety,” said FMCSA Administrator Anne S. Ferro. “It’s just too dangerous for drivers to use a hand-held cell phone while operating a commercial vehicle. Drivers must keep their eyes on the road, hands on the wheel and head in the game when operating on our roads. Lives are at stake.”
