Hand-held Cell Phones Banned for Commercial Drivers

New Regulation Bans Hand-Held Phone Use by Commercial Drivers

            Distractions caused by cell phones and other devices while driving are increasingly becoming problems on our roadways. Although some of the safest drivers are found behind the wheels of our nation’s large trucks and buses, distracted drivers of commercial vehicles pose a great threat.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and the Pipeline and Hazardous Material Safety Administration (PHMSA) have amended federal regulations to ban the use of hand-held phones by commercial vehicle drivers. So even on local roads, truckers, bus drivers and carriers of hazardous materials are not allowed to use their cell phones while driving.

The FMCSA’s research indicates that using a hand-held phone while driving poses a higher safety risk than other distracted driving activities, such as eating or adjusting a console instrument. While the new commercial driving regulation is aimed at sustaining and increasing the safety of our roads, we should all be conscious of our distracted driving habits and follow the FMCSA’s lead.

If you have been injured in any type of vehicle mishap and you suspect the at-fault driver was distracted while driving, please call me for a free consultation at 866-460-1990.