A new rule has eliminated one of the great dangers on the roadway, the use of cell phones by truck drivers. Now I am not stating that car drivers should be allowed to use cell phones, nor am I saying that hands free phones are significantly safer. I am saying that this is a step in the right direction. Further, since trucks are so much bigger than cars, the use of cell phones by truckers typically leads to greater tragedy than when a wreck simply involves two cars. A wreck between two cars is simply more survivable for the parties involved.
Distracted driving is something I have blogged about extensively and it is nice to see a step in the right direction. The announcement stated:
U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood today announced a final rule specifically prohibiting interstate truck and bus drivers from using hand-held cell phones while operating their vehicles. The joint rule from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) is the latest action by the U.S. Department of Transportation to end distracted driving.
You can find out more, HERE