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Many states and municipalities have put in place laws restricting the use of cell phones while driving. Now, the federal government has created some limits of its own. Through a series of new restrictions, the federal government is attempting to reduce distracted driving among commercial drivers. KSMU’s Emma Wilson brings us this story on the latest regulation in this initiative.
A couple of weeks ago, United States Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced a new rule that specifically bans the use of handheld mobile communication devices by commercial drivers. This new law is a follow-up to the September 2010 and February 2011 regulations prohibiting text messaging while operating commercial vehicles. Captain Tim Hull is the Missouri State Highway Patrol Public Information and Education Division Director.
“The definition of a mobile communication device includes a cell phone or a push-to-talk phone, which we see a lot of those today. The rule does not include CB radios. Mobile communication device that is not hands free can be used in emergencies or to contact law enforcement to report crashes, intoxicated drivers, and so forth.”
This new ban will affect all interstate commercial vehicles. It went into effect on November 23rd. Besides banning handheld cell phones for commercial drivers, the rule also states that hands-free devices must be immediately accessible and are able to be dialed by pressing a single button.
“What they’re trying to do is reduce the number of those distracted driving incidents that we see around the country. And in some cases it is commercial drivers and bus drivers that are driving buses with passengers across the country and things like that.”
Hull says that Missouri law allows the state to adopt these federal regulations. State law enforcement officers can enforce them as they would any other state law.
[Sound: outdoor truck stop noises]
At the TA Travel Center in Strafford, dozens of truck drivers have stopped to get a bite to eat, take a shower, or put gas in their trucks. Most of them have little black Bluetooth earpieces or full headsets. Mark Johnson is a truck driver from Hell, Michigan; he says that several states have already adopted policies banning hand-held and even hands-free mobile devices for commercial truck drivers.
“I don’t think it will really affect truck drivers that much [be]cause quite a few drivers already have headsets, it’s a lot easier to drive and concentrate on the road. I think it should be hands-free headsets but still, if somebody’s in an in-depth conversation with somebody—a heated argument or such—they’re still not paying attention to the road.”
George Ortega from El Paso, Texas agrees, but he says he’s doubtful that the restrictions on truck drivers will have a major impact on public safety.
“I don’t think so, because everyone I see out here is usually on Bluetooth, anyway. The four-wheelers, they’re the ones who—well they pass and we can see what they’re doing. They’re always texting or they’re talking, they’re the ones you’ve got to watch out for. So I think they should pass more laws against them instead of us.”
That is why Tim Hull hopes that the public will take these new regulations into consideration when setting out in their non-commercial vehicles. You can find more information about this law and the U.S. DOT’s campaign against distracted driving on the website, www.distraction.gov.
For KSMU News, I’m Emma Wilson.
