Federal Administration Bans Texting While Driving for all Truck Drivers
As Indiana truck accident lawyers, we think it’s great that the federal administration has set off several steps in motion to enhance truck safety and prevent accidents. In the latest such measure, the Department of Transportation has imposed a ban on text messaging while driving for all commercial truck drivers. Under the new rules, truckers who break the rules could face fines of up to $2,750.
This ban is meant to tackle the issue of distractions in truck drivers, which is obviously a far greater concern than texting by motorists. While a distracted motorist is at a serious risk of an accident, the risks are greatly magnified when you substitute the motorist with a tractor trailer driver operating a massive rig that can weigh up to 80,000 pounds.
The move is part of a greater initiative by the Department of Transportation to cut down the risks of distracted driving. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has made clear his commitment to the issue. Last year, Secretary LaHood convened a Distracted Driving Summit after which President Obama signed an executive order banning all employers of the federal government from using government-issue cell phones while driving government-issued vehicles.
As Indiana truck accident lawyers however, we would have appreciated the ban more if it included a ban on the use of computers in the trailer cab. These computers are frequently used by truckers to keep in touch with trucking companies, receive orders and for other activities. Drivers are forbidden from using these computers while driving. However, the fact is that many truckers either don’t pull over before using the computer, or are not able to do so on a busy highway. The risk of distractions from these computers may be several times more than that from cell phones. Fortunately, Secretary LaHood agrees, and has confirmed his interest in dealing with such distractions too.
The Indiana truck accident attorneys at Theodoros & Rooth represent injured victims of truck, tractor trailer and 18-wheeler accidents in Lake County and around the state of Indiana.
