February 12, 2012
/24-7PressRelease/ -- Interstate truckers can simultaneously ring in the New Year and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) ban on hand-held cell phone use this January 2012. Under the rule, truck drivers and trucking companies are subject to steep penalties if caught violating the ban. The purpose of the regulation is to protect both truckers and others on the roads from
truck accidents caused by using hand-held cell phones. Critics say the ban is too harsh and difficult to enforce, but proponents want it expanded to passenger car drivers.
FMCSA Hand-Held Ban
The
FMCSA ban on all hand-held cell phone use while driving takes effect on January third, and impacts four million interstate truckers. While truck drivers may feel targeted by this rule, the FMCSA justifies it with crash data showing commercial drivers who look down to answer or use hand-held cell phones are more prone to cause accidents. Any interstate truckers found in violation of this rule face civil penalties of up to $2,750 per incident, and trucking companies may be fined up to $11,000 per violation.
Trucks and Driving Dangers
According to Transportation Secretary Ray Lahood, it only takes a few seconds of looking away from the road for drivers of large trucks to cause a potentially fatal crash. Even the action of a truck driver reaching to answer a cell phone can triple the odds that an accident will result. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says that in 2009 alone, nationally close to 5,500 people died and a half million suffered injuries because of distracted driving practices. These deaths accounted for 16 percent of all traffic fatalities for 2009.
Rule Proponents and Critics
Interstate truck drivers generally understand and accept the safety reasoning behind the ban, especially because of the extensive damage large trucks can cause, but do not agree with the exemption of passenger car drivers from the same law. The American Trucking Associations stands behind the regulation. The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, however, does not believe the FMCSA has a solid enforcement strategy or that a hand-held cell phone distracts truckers any more than other devices common to cabs.
Changing Unsafe Practices
The goal of this ban on hand-held cell phone use, as well as other similar rules and laws around the nation, is to stop driver distraction and prevent unnecessary motor vehicle accidents. So, while this New Year brings a significant change for truckers, it will hopefully help to prevent the unsafe practices of distracted driving. Additionally under this new rule, victims of truck accidents have rights to hold commercial drivers accountable for using their hand-held cell phones while driving.
If you were recently involved in an accident with a truck or other commercial vehicle, contact a local personal injury attorney right away to assess your case. Personal injury lawyers can subpoena the driver's cell phone records to ascertain whether hand-held cell phone use, texting or emailing was a distracting factor immediately before the accident occurred.
Article provided by Nagle & Associates, P.A.
Visit us at
www.carolinatrucklawyer.com---
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