The Rover Posted January 26, 2010 Share Posted January 26, 2010 U.S. bans truckers, bus drivers from texting while driving http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/26/AR2010012602031.html Tuesday, January 26, 2010; 1:22 PM The government Tuesday formally barred truckers and bus drivers from sending text messages while behind the wheel, putting the federal 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. Texting and cellphone use have been banned in many major commercial fleets, including FedEx's 43,000 vehicles and the 100,000 used by United Parcel Service. With LaHood leading the effort, supported by mounting evidence of the danger, Adkins predicted that this year could see an effort to ban cellphone use by all drivers. Statistics released two weeks ago by the National Safety Council indicated that 28 percent of traffic accidents occur when drivers are talking on cellphones or sending text messages. The nonprofit council said that texting was to blame for 200,000 of the crashes, while cellphone conversations caused 1.4 million. Those numbers come in the context of federal statistics that show that about 812,000 drivers are using cellphones at any given moment during daylight hours. In announcing the ban Tuesday, LaHood pointed to data compiled by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration last year, which show that drivers who send and receive text messages take their eyes off the road for an average of 4.6 seconds out of every six seconds while texting. At 55 mph, he said, that means that during that time, the driver travels the length of a football field, including the end zones, without looking at the road. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eternal light Posted January 26, 2010 Share Posted January 26, 2010 I can understand this measure. Not long ago a driver was on his cell phone and/or texting and he collided with a young boy who later died. It really was a tragedy. You can always pull over and park if you must use your cell phone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Knebby Posted January 26, 2010 Share Posted January 26, 2010 I can't believe this news report. It wasn't already banned? Holy shit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walter Posted January 26, 2010 Share Posted January 26, 2010 No kidding, Knebby. How was this never banned in the past and how is it only exclusive to trucks and buses. No one should be texting and driving! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MHD Posted January 26, 2010 Share Posted January 26, 2010 I can't believe this news report. It wasn't already banned? Holy shit. My thoughts exactly! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danelectro59 Posted January 26, 2010 Share Posted January 26, 2010 No kidding, Knebby. How was this never banned in the past and how is it only exclusive to trucks and buses. No one should be texting and driving! Agreed 100% I can't believe how many people I see on the road with their heads down reading or sending text messages. Totally stupid and dangerous to boot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ally Posted January 26, 2010 Share Posted January 26, 2010 Agreed 100% I can't believe how many people I see on the road with their heads down reading or sending text messages. Totally stupid and dangerous to boot. In B.C., we've recently seen a total ban on the use of cell phones ( unless hands free ) and texting while driving. Why this took so long is a mystery to me but, it will be interesting to see how the police actually inforce this law. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pb Derigable Posted January 26, 2010 Share Posted January 26, 2010 Effective January 1st, 2010 at 12:01, Texting while operating any motor-vehicle on public roads in the great state of Illinois is now prohibited. I like the law, we are getting closer to the "NO MORONS ALLOWED LAW" which is a good thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redrum Posted January 27, 2010 Share Posted January 27, 2010 "NO MORONS ALLOWED LAW" That's a law the DMV needs to be held responsible for. They'd give a driver's license to a blind gorilla. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manderlyh Posted January 27, 2010 Share Posted January 27, 2010 What about banning them from TALKING while driving a large vehicle? I almost got ran off the road a few months ago by a trucker who was talking on his phone. It scared the living SHIT out of me and I do not think he even NOTICED. However, I still think it should be totally illegal for ANYONE to text or talk while driving. Period. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eternal light Posted January 27, 2010 Share Posted January 27, 2010 A semi once ran into my vehicle on the passenger's side. Ever since that time I stay as clear of those big trucks as possible in every direction. On occasion I pull off the road if the traffic gets too heavy and wait for it to clear before I continue toward my destination. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Knebby Posted January 27, 2010 Share Posted January 27, 2010 Using a mobile phone in a vehicle without hands-free has been illegal in the UK for years. Even hands-free is frowned upon, and if you are seen with a phone on your lap you can be pulled over and given shit for it - because it will be assumed that you've either just used it or are just about to. However, people do flout this law - and you can usually tell when someone is driving badly that they are chatting away on their phone. Crazy people. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ally Posted January 27, 2010 Share Posted January 27, 2010 In B.C. it's a $167 fine for using a cell phone and an additional 3 penalty points on your licence if caught texting. Nothing in the legislation to deal with repeat offenders. Not enough me thinks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starbreaker Posted January 28, 2010 Share Posted January 28, 2010 About time this happened. Out of curiosity, how does the government go about enforcing this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danelectro59 Posted January 28, 2010 Share Posted January 28, 2010 In B.C., we've recently seen a total ban on the use of cell phones ( unless hands free ) and texting while driving. Why this took so long is a mystery to me but, it will be interesting to see how the police actually inforce this law. Yes, since almost all cops have cell phones and i've seen a few of them using them while driving. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ally Posted January 28, 2010 Share Posted January 28, 2010 About time this happened. Out of curiosity, how does the government go about enforcing this? For us, an unpaid fine will mean you cannot renew your car insurance. Our car insurance is run by a provincial government Crown Corporation. Collecting unpaid fines is about all this Crown Corp. is good for Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danelectro59 Posted January 28, 2010 Share Posted January 28, 2010 Our car insurance is run by a provincial government any type of insurance run by the government won't fly here in the states Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ninelives Posted January 28, 2010 Share Posted January 28, 2010 It's about time. Even hands free talking while driving is dangerous because you're not totally focused on driving but talking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
longdistancewinner Posted January 28, 2010 Share Posted January 28, 2010 It's not so much that it so long for a ban to take place that surprises me, but that it's only applicable to bus drivers and lorry/truck drivers. Everyone should be banned from using phones whilst driving. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ally Posted January 28, 2010 Share Posted January 28, 2010 any type of insurance run by the government won't fly here in the states Yeah, I know. As far as I know, it doesn't fly anywhere else in Canada either. Gotta love the left coast Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danelectro59 Posted January 28, 2010 Share Posted January 28, 2010 It's about time. Even hands free talking while driving is dangerous because you're not totally focused on driving but talking. Sorry, but i gotta take exception to that. How is that any different than having someone else in the car? Or are you not supposed to talk to them while driving either? Come on, seriously, if one can't drive and talk at the same time, maybe one shouldn't drive at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manderlyh Posted January 29, 2010 Share Posted January 29, 2010 Yes, since almost all cops have cell phones and i've seen a few of them using them while driving. OURS use their laptops while driving too. Same with paramedics and firefighters too. It's not so much that it so long for a ban to take place that surprises me, but that it's only applicable to bus drivers and lorry/truck drivers. Everyone should be banned from using phones whilst driving. I mentioned this to my kids in class the other day, and guess what one of them said?!? "Well, the truckers have to use their phones to keep in touch with their bosses and their families." My response? "Well, er, yes, but they can talk to them on the phone when they're not driving..." I just blows me away--this generation of kids--they do not KNOW life without cell phones. At ALL. One actually asked me a while ago when we were talking about a missing hiker that was found, "if you're lost in the mountains and you are in danger, why don't you call 911?" It was news to them that sometimes, (or how about ALL THE TIME), you don't get cell service in the middle of the wilderness... Seriously? It really kills me how we are SO DEPENDENT on our cell phones these days. Yes, I have one. Yes, I text, I use it for internet access, etc. If I forget my phone at home and I'm at work, it's no biggie. I KILLS me how many people feel the need to continually text while at work, school, in public, etc. What about the day I left my phone at home while running errands? You'd have thought I was a missing person, the way my mom reacted when I called her back when I got home, "where were you? Didn't you have your phone with you?" Not to mention the idiot at the gym who walk at a snail's pace on the treadmills becuase they think it's important to have a conversation while working out...(mine stays in the car when I'm at the gym...) End of rant. Maybe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sailor86 Posted January 29, 2010 Share Posted January 29, 2010 Apparently, we are so dependent on our electronic media these days, some can't go to the grocery store without the need to communicate somehow. What happened to just driving with the radio on or a good CD playing. Gotta have peace of mind sometimes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ady Posted January 29, 2010 Share Posted January 29, 2010 Anyone who is stupid enough to do it should watch this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVQg8h_JmkY Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manderlyh Posted January 30, 2010 Share Posted January 30, 2010 Anyone who is stupid enough to do it should watch this: http://www.youtube.c...h?v=KVQg8h_JmkY I posted that to my FB account. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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