DOT
14-10
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Contact: USDOT Public Affairs
Tel: 202-366-4570
U.S
Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood today announced
federal guidance to expressly prohibit texting by
drivers of commercial vehicles such as large trucks and
buses. The prohibition is effective immediately and is
the latest in a series of actions taken by the
Department to combat distracted driving since the
Secretary convened a national summit on the issue last
September.
"We
want the drivers of big rigs and buses and those who
share the roads with them to be safe," said
Secretary LaHood. "This is an important safety step
and we will be taking more to eliminate the threat of
distracted driving."
The
action is the result of the Department's interpretation
of standing rules. Truck and bus 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."
FMCSA
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. At 55
miles per hour, this means that the driver is traveling
the length of a football field, including the end zones,
without looking at the road. Drivers who text while
driving are more than 20 times more likely to get in an
accident than non-distracted drivers. Because of the
safety risks associated with the use of electronic
devices while driving, FMCSA is also working on
additional regulatory measures that will be announced in
the coming months.
During
the September 2009 Distracted Driving Summit, the
Secretary announced the Department's plan to pursue this
regulatory action, as well as rulemakings to reduce the
risks posed by distracted driving. President Obama also
signed an Executive Order directing federal employees
not to engage in text messaging while driving
government-owned vehicles or with government-owned
equipment. Federal employees were required to comply
with the ban starting on December 30, 2009.
The
regulatory guidance on today's announcement will be on
public display in the Federal Register January 26
and will appear in print in the Federal Register
on January 27.
The
public can follow the progress of the U.S. Department of
Transportation in working to combat distracted driving www.distraction.gov.
ATA Message Points on Texting Ban
FMCSA Regulatory Guidance on Texting by CMV Drivers
Secretary Ray LaHood's Comments on Texting Ban for CMV Drivers
U.S.
Department of Transportation
Office of Public Affairs
1200 New Jersey Ave., S.E.
Washington
,
DC
20590
www.dot.gov/affairs/briefing.htm
