Recommended Ban on Cell Phone Use For Commercial Truck Drivers
Distracted driving has been a big issue in recent years with all the technology we readily have at our fingertips. The National Transportation Safety Board has recommended that commercial truck drivers be banned from using both hand-held and hands-free cell phones while driving. Currently, truckers are banned from text messaging while driving, and can be hit with a $2,750 fine if caught.
Distracted driving and getting into an accident when you’re driving a regular car is bad enough, but imagine driving a huge tractor trailer and causing a car wreck because you were busy talking on the phone or looking down at your phone while texting. Trucks carrying heavy cargo can cause severe damage.
The recommendation of this ban on cell phone use stems from a case in Kentucky where 11 people were killed in a crash involving a tractor-trailer. Investigators concluded that the truck driver was using his phone at the time of the crash based on the phone log. There were no signs of mechanical issues with the truck or driver health problems.
Whether you’re a truck driver or not, it’s important to be mindful of the road at all times. If you absolutely must make or take that phone call, pull off to the side of the road in a safe area. For truckers who drive alone, we understand that it can get boring driving all day by yourself, but really think about how you are causing danger not only to yourself, but to others who share the road with you.
To find out about cell phone use and texting while driving laws in your state, visit the Governors Highway Safety Association.
If you’ve been involved in an accident with a truck driver, make sure to contact an experienced tractor-trailer accident attorney in Virginia.