U.S. bans truckers, bus drivers from texting while driving

[TomCADem]

Source: Washington Post

On Tuesday, the federal government formally barred truckers and bus drivers from sending text messages while behind the wheel, putting its imprimatur on a prohibition embraced by many large trucking and transportation companies.

"We want the drivers of big rigs and buses and those who share the roads with them to be safe," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. "This is an important safety step, and we will be taking more to eliminate the threat of distracted driving."

LaHood has made the effort to curtail driver distractions a centerpiece of his tenure as the nation's top transportation official. Some saw his announcement as a step that might ultimately fuel a push to ban cellphone use by all drivers.

LaHood's announcement followed a study released in July by Virginia Tech's Transportation Institute that found that when truckers text, they are 23 times as likely to be involved in a crash or close call.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/26/AR2010012602031.html?hpid=moreheadlines

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In light of the Metrolink crash several years ago that was due to a conductor texting, which killed numerous commuters, my only surprise is that this was not already illegal. Too much government interference for the Bush administration?

[Orrex]

1. I just learned tonight that it's not yet illegal here in PA

When I'm driving to Ohio tomorrow, I guess I'll pass the time texting!

[Cal Carpenter]

9. The federal rules apply to interstate commercial drivers

But some states adopt the regulations for all commercial motor vehicle operators within their state as well. I don't know which states or how many - but I know this is true for Michigan.

[Psephos]

2. kthxbai n/t

[Arctic Dave]

3. They are just now doing this. When I drive a company vehicle I can't call, radio, text, nothing.

[BrklynLiberal]

4. duh Nothing like a big rig driver texting while he is driving 80mph down some major highway..

Sounds like a scene from "Final Destination"

[Cal Carpenter]

10. fwiw, I don't know of a single company which doesn't already have a rule

about this for their employees. It's pretty standard from what I understand - I know quite a few drivers, from local delivery people to interstate big rig drivers...

[defendandprotect]

5. Would be nice to get the 18 wheelers off our local streets here in NJ!!!

Getting dangerous -- !!

[AngryAmish]

6. are they going to outlaw "up for 8 days on speed" while driving, too

[jmowreader]

7. That's been outlawed for half of forever

Hours of Service time again: A trucker has five Hours of Service Rules to follow:

1. The 14 Hour Rule: Once a property-carrying Commercial Motor Vehicle driver starts his day, he may not drive past the 14th hour--if he starts at 6am, he may not drive past 8pm.
2. The 11 Hour Rule: In that 14-hour block of time, the driver may not drive more than 11 of those hours. The other three hours are for things like loading, unloading, having lunch and fueling.
3. The 10 Hour Rule: After the driver's shift, he must rest for 10 hours. Of them, at least 8 consecutive hours must be in the sleeper berth or other sleeping spot--if you're driving a truck with no sleeper you can sleep at home, in a motel or whatever.
4. The 70 Hour Rule: The driver must log driving on "line 3" of his logbook, and "on duty not driving" time (fueling, helping to load or unload, servicing the truck or required inspections) on "line 4" of his logbook. You add together line 3 and line 4 to get your hours worked for the day. If you run seven days a week, you are allowed to work no more than 70 hours in an 8-day span. If you don't run seven days a week--this would be someone like a delivery driver for a warehouse that isn't open on the weekends--you can work 60 hours in a 7-day span.
5. The 34 Hour Rule: You can reset your 70-hour clock by resting for 34 hours.

Notice I said "property carrying CMV." The rules are different for passenger-carrying CMVs.

The real problem with paper logs is they're reasonably easy to falsify so long as your company doesn't match the driver's log sheets with the driving-time information on his Qualcomm data feed. A real little company could conceivably do that. A company with more than a couple hundred trucks cannot--there's no real way to do it except as a spot check. If a guy KNOWS he isn't going to get caught, he'll try pulling some shit because the way the rules are written right now, with that fucking 14-hour rule, it's totally possible that, if you go to a place with real slow lumpers, your 14 hour day will consist of seven hours line 3 and seven hours pacing back and forth waiting for two people to unload your truck by picking the shit up in their hands and carrying it into the distribution center. (This has happened to me.)

[Coventina]

8. Anyone who texts while driving should have their license revoked permantently.

Anyone that stupid should not be driving.

[4dsc]

11. What about watching video's while driving

I have more than my fair share of driver with laptops beside them in what appears to be videos' playing while driving down the road.. Amazing..