Is Ban On Texting For Commercial Motor Vehicle Drivers Enough?

Is Ban on Texting for Commercial Motor Vehicle Drivers Enough?

by

Larry Drexel

Over the past few years, several states have enacted laws prohibiting drivers from using handheld electronic devices to text or talk while operating a motor vehicle. However, the limitations set on the use of such devices vary throughout the country, and some states, such as Florida, Montana, and South Dakota, have no laws banning the deadly activity, explains a lawyer. While the federal government has acted to implement a ban on texting for the drivers of commercial motor vehicles, it should create a uniform ban on all cell phone use. As long as laws permit some use, the incidence of fatal and injury crashes like those that recently occurred in Orange County, California and Billings, Montana may remain high.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UyX2ZhpGuQ4[/youtube]

Despite the fact that more than 3,000 people were killed in traffic accidents in which distraction was a factor in 2010, the federal government has not enacted a nationwide ban on the use of all portable electronic devices while driving. As of February 2012, using a hand-held cell phone while driving was against the law in 10 states, and sending text messages was prohibited in 35 states. In addition, the use of a cell phone by novice drivers was restricted in 20 states and the District of Columbia. Even in states where the use of a hand-held cell phone is prohibited, having the device in the vehicle has proven too tempting for drivers. Currently, a case is underway in Orange County, California in which a woman was distracted while sending text messages and failed to decelerate for stopped freeway traffic, rear-ending a vehicle at 80 miles per hour, explains a lawyer. The occupant of that vehicle suffered fatal injuries. Although the woman contends that her cell phone was in her cup holder at the time of the crash, authorities believe she was distracted and are charging her with vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence, reported KABC-TV Los Angeles. Although there are no statewide laws prohibiting cell phone use or texting while driving in Montana, certain municipalities have enacted their own bans, including Billings, the location of a fatal crash last August. While traveling on Highway 87, a semi-truck driver veered into the oncoming traffic of the opposing lanes and into a jeep and a white car, killing the two occupants of the jeep and the driver of the car and critically injuring a mother and child. Authorities claimed that the truck driver was distracted at the time of the accident, reported KTVQ.com. Recognizing the risk truck and bus drivers pose to others on the rode when they operate these heavy vehicles while distracted, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration recently prohibited the use of hand-held and push-to-talk cell phones by all commercial drivers. While the municipal, state, and federal laws against distracted driving currently in place may prevent some accidents, a greater impact on the incidence of injuries and deaths caused by the dangerous activity could, arguably, be made by enacting a federal ban on the use of all portable electronic devices while operating a motor vehicle, as was recently recommended by the National Transportation Safety Board.

Larry Drexel is a Public Relations manager. To obtain free, informative books or articles he suggests visiting

Orange County injury lawyer

.

Article Source:

Is Ban on Texting for Commercial Motor Vehicle Drivers Enough?