Home » Telecommunications Articles » NTSB Seeks Ban of All Behind-the-Wheel Cell Phone Use by Commercial Truckers
NTSB Seeks Ban of All Behind-the-Wheel Cell Phone Use by Commercial Truckers
The National Transportation Safety Board is lobbying for a law that would ban all cell phone use by commercial truckers.
January 19, 2012 /Telecommunications PR News/ -- The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) are both moving forward with proposals to convince federal lawmakers to ban all behind-the-wheel mobile phone use -- even hands-free -- by truckers and other commercial drivers (including bus, delivery and mass transit operators).
The United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FCMSA) have already passed regulations that would prohibit commercial truckers from text messaging behind the wheel, but this one would go farther, prohibiting ALL cell phone use while driving, including the use of hands-free headsets or Bluetooth devices.
The move comes on the heels of the investigation into a widely publicized Kentucky highway crash -- labeled by some as the worst in a generation -- that killed eleven people. The NTSB determined that a distracted commercial truck driver caused the accident that killed himself and ten other motorists by using his cell phone while driving. The NTSB was able to prove that in the 24 hours prior to the tragedy, the driver had used his cell phone a whopping 69 times, making four calls in the minutes just before the accident, with the last call coming at the precise time his semi truck left the roadway.
Even though transportation industry experts like those at the American Trucking Association say that trucking companies can adequately police the cell phone use of their drivers by instituting internal regulations, the fact remains that there are over 500,000 distracted driving-related injuries annually (and around 6,000 deaths), many of which can be attributed to commercial drivers.
If implemented, this ban would go a long way toward keeping the roadways of America safer by keeping commercial drivers focused on the safe operation of their oversized vehicles. Until such time when truckers are forced to stop using cell phones behind the wheel, though, accidents will continue to occur. If you or a loved one has been injured in a trucking accident, consult a skilled personal injury attorney in your area to learn more about your legal rights and options you may have for recovery.
Article provided by Hargadon, Lenihan & Herrington, PLLC
Visit us at www.hlhinjury.com
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