Ray LaHood, the U.S. transportation secretary, today announced a new ban on texting by drivers of trucks, large buses and other commercial vehicles.
“We want the drivers of big rigs and buses and those who share the roads with them to be safe,” LaHood said in a press release. “This is an important safety step and we will be taking more to eliminate the threat of distracted driving.”
The new ban takes effect immediately, outawing the use of phones and other wireless devices to send or receive e-mail and other text messages. It applies to interstate truckers and to commercial bus or van drivers who carry more than 8 passengers.
Drivers who text while driving commercial vehicles may be subject to civil or criminal penalties of up to $2,750.
"Our regulations will help prevent unsafe activity within the cab,” said Anne Ferro, administrator for the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). “We want to make it crystal clear to operators and their employers that texting while driving is the type of unsafe activity that these regulations are intended to prohibit."
Federal research shows that drivers who send and receive text messages take their eyes off the road for an average of 4.6 seconds out of every 6 seconds while texting.
Also at today's telephone press conference on the new rules, The News & Observer asked LaHood if he plans to announce high-speed rail grants on Thursday. His answer:
"Soon. Soon. Very soon. Thank you for your interest in high-speed rail."
Bruce Siceloff reports on traffic and transportation. A News & Observer reporter, editor and blogger since 1976, he took over the
Comments
TRACY STRANDBERG
Wed, 01/27/2010 - 19:55 — hob5678Since in the article the daughter admits to being distracted by using her cellphone and being responsible for all three accidents, is her statement in this article consistent with her statements to police investigating the three accidents, the accident reports filed on these three accidents and any court proceedings related to these three accidents? If not, then certainly it is a crime to file false statements with the law enforcement officers, file false accident reports and certainly commit perjury in a court proceeding. If any false statements were in fact made, then that could certainly be just cause to immediately revoke her driver's license. I have forwarded this question to the appropriate law enforcement authorities for their review and consideration. And were the driver's of the other vehicles and their insurance company's aware of these facts?
Comments and civility
Wed, 01/27/2010 - 13:29 — BruceSiceloff (author)Folks:
If you want to keep the conversation going, and we all do, then keep it civil. That's not hard to do. If you can't express your opinion without stooping to name-calling, then you should find another place to vent.
Our online editors spend a lot of time, unfortunately, deleting comments that violate our guidelines against advertising, obscenity and personal attack. Sometimes when a story draws a high volume of inappropriate comments, it becomes impossible to monitor individual problems and they just have to shut it down. I hate when that happens, and I'm sorry it happened with the Strandberg story published Sunday.
Here is the heart of our comment guidelines:
"We invite you to comment on our content as part of our interactive community, but we reserve the right to delete posts that we consider inappropriate.
"We ask that you remain civil, and please follow these guidelines:
"* Do not resort to personal abuse. You may disagree with the content of an article, with the reporter or with other readers’ comments, but do not attack anyone personally. Do not libel or defame anyone or violate their privacy."
And here is the whole thing: http://www.newsobserver.com/about/site_info/story/139846.html
Thanks.
Hey Watchtower, My friends
Tue, 01/26/2010 - 22:27 — SkepticalGirlHey Watchtower,
My friends call me "Skep". I'll text you my opinions on all this if we're deleted as I drive down the interstate at 90 mph. I can always buy more insurance at Strandsberg if I'm dropped by my carrier. LOL
Make the lawyers happy (again)
Tue, 01/26/2010 - 21:17 — Notsurewhere_NCAlthough hard to enforce in real time, these ceremonial bans will seal the deal on negligence lawsuits when cell records indicate this activity was in progress during an accident. The high tech version of open containers in the front seat area.
I had to laugh that the N&O
Tue, 01/26/2010 - 20:30 — carovaI had to laugh that the N&O pulled 74 comments about the father and daughter nitwits who were dumb enough to 1) put other drivers at risk by entertaining themselves as they drove, and 2) then volunteered to be the subjects of the article.
One comment supported them and Dad wrote in twice to justify himself. So 71 commentors let em have it. Would anyone like to make a wager that 1) Dad has already been called on the carpet by his insurance masters and 2) that the N&O either received a call from an attorney or Dad threatened them with legal action? Face it, the comments are far more interesting than the articles.
Stranbergism is Editors Choice
Tue, 01/26/2010 - 20:47 — watchtowerCarova and Skepticalgirl,
Have you seen that the Strandberg article is still very prominent on the home page as an "editor's choice"? I bet skepticalgirl (I like that screen name even though it is hard to type) is right, our comments on this blog will soon be deleted. :-)
How dare we ridicule those who have publicly announced themselves worthy of, or worse than ridicule?
Watchtower out. Good Night!
Watchtower, HAHAHA!!! Like
Tue, 01/26/2010 - 18:49 — SkepticalGirlWatchtower, HAHAHA!!! Like little Tracy has to work for a living. She'll live off Daddy's insurance company money until she finds a rich man to marry, then they'll produce little nitwits to drive around and put the rest of us in jeopardy. Can you believe the N&O cut off comments?
Skepticalgirl, you are 100%
Tue, 01/26/2010 - 20:38 — watchtowerSkepticalgirl, you are 100% right. :-)
And if they can't handle the truth (the comments), then they should apologize for and delete the story.
Take care!
Tracy Can Solve Problem Now
Tue, 01/26/2010 - 20:39 — watchtowerDear Tracy Strandberg,Please get a job as a trucker or a bus driver. That way you will soon end up in jail and the rest of us will be safer on the road. Please tell your brilliant old man to do the same. This is the help you wanted right?Warmest regards,Watchtower
how about the state police
Tue, 01/26/2010 - 17:46 — tboard47If you are going to pass this rule lets put the computer screen DOWN in police vehicles. I saw two state police go by me at 45 MPH with their eyes glued to their computer screens-dah- just wait til one of them plows into the car in front of them and they cover it up..
Put the screens down while the police car is in motion !!!!!
Is the gov't this stupid???
Tue, 01/26/2010 - 16:54 — stevemichaelsLets see, millions of people come across the border every day and we can't stop or find them. We can't stop bombers from boarding airplanes or psychos from shooting up army posts - but we are going to be able to catch people texting on the highway? I would be embarassed if I was in this federal position and had to announce such a useless statement. Yes, I agree these are terrible things to do while driving, but come on lets get real here!
Reckless Driving
Tue, 01/26/2010 - 13:18 — landsharkI feel like I'm ride with on a ship full of fools! We make these big and loud proclamations about no texting while driving...... So what if I do? If I'm in a accident you will have to invest agate to see if I was texting or doing something else that took my attention away from proper driving! Yes!
So why not just used the laws we currently have on the books. Reckless driving is a crime. Punish the people who do reckless drive. Do the same investigation you'll have to do anyway under a new law! Yes! As new safety equipment come along add it to automobiles! Because we know at some point some folks are just to stupid to be trusted to obey the laws, so they must be forced to do so!