Glancing at a mobile device while driving can lead to unintended and disastrous consequences. Unfortunately, texting and driving are common practice as many folks are oblivious to the dangers of distracted driving. The stakes only increase for drivers of commercial motor vehicles (CMV). The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) recently found that, “the odds of being involved in a safety-critical event (e.g., crash, near-crash, unintentional lane deviation) are 23.2 times greater for CMV drivers who text while driving than for those who do not.” For this reason, safety regulations have been updated to preserve the safety of everyone on the road.
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) Rules
As the use of hand-held mobile devices have become an everyday accessory for most citizens, the FMCSA regulations have been updated to address accepted behavior while driving commercial motor vehicles. As laws and regulations may vary from state to state, the FMCSA has implemented clear rules and regulations to be followed by commercial motor vehicle drivers, including truck and bus drivers, which strictly prohibit the use of hand-held mobile devices for the use of texting while operating a vehicle during interstate commerce. The FMCSA defines texting as, “manually entering alphanumeric text into, or reading text from, an electronic device.” Should a CMV driver need to make a text or phone call, the mobile device should be “hands-free” accessible and within close proximity to the driver.
FMCSA Defines ‘Distracted Driving’ for CMV Drivers
Additionally, in the interest of public safety, the FMCSA has defined driving distractions to include the following, but is not limited to:
- Sending a short message service (SMS)
- E-mailing
- Instant Messaging
- Accessing a Web page
- Pressing more than a single button to initiate or terminate a voice communication
- Engaging in any other form of electronic text retrieval
- Entry for present or future communication
Penalties and Consequences of ‘Distracted Driving’
Interstate miles add up, and after a few trips up and down I-65, the scenery becomes very, very predictable. While it’s tempting to catch up on the latest tweets or Facebook updates, traffic patterns change by the second and driver awareness is paramount. Road safety remains a priority and the FMSCA has outlined specific penalties to those that do not abide by the regulations.
The penalty for truck driving while distracted can include fines of up to $2,750, with repeat offenders facing disqualification or suspension of up to 120 days. Meanwhile, the driver’s employers can include fines of up to $11,000, if they knowingly allow or require drivers to use hand-held devices while driving, and can negatively affect the employer’s Safety Measurement System (SMS) ratings, which can alter insurance rates and minimums.
Road Safety for Everyone
The FMCSA understands that truck drivers spend many long hours on the road and also understands the need to have the latest tech. However, regulations state clearly the necessity for strict regulation in the interest of public safety. By allowing a mobile device to distract a driver on the road, the driver can face serious consequences, such as terminations and civil lawsuits. And in the worst case scenario, distracted driving can also lead to tragic deaths.
For more information on truck driving opportunities contact M & W Transportation at 866-685-6282.
Sources:
http://www.truckingtruth.com/trucking_blogs/Article-3826/distracted-driving-for-truck-drivers
https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/driver-safety/distracted-driving
