Thread: Feds weigh cellphone ban for bus, truck drivers

Feds weigh cellphone ban for bus, truck drivers

Posted 5m ago
By Joan Lowy, Associated Press

WASHINGTON — Safety investigators told federal regulators three years ago that it was dangerous for bus drivers to talk on cellphones while driving, and recommended a ban.

The National Transportation Safety Board put that recommendation on its list of most important safety measures. Industry and safety groups had no objections.

Yet the regulatory agency that would write new rules on cellphone use by commercial drivers, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, has done little more than study the issue.

Now, after several high-profile accidents that focused public attention on using cellphones on the road, the Obama administration has decided to act on the issue, which was left hanging by the Bush administration.

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood will convene a two-day summit next week on distracted driving and plans to announce actions to address cellphone use by bus and truck drivers, said spokeswoman Jill Zuckman.

The NTSB's recommendation was prompted by a 2004 accident in which the driver of a motorcoach carrying students on a trip to Washington became so engrossed in a cellphone conversation that he failed to notice signs that said the height of an upcoming bridge was nearly 2 feet less than the height of the bus. The bus slammed into the underside of the bridge, shearing off the roof and injuring 11 passengers.

"He drove that bus right into that bridge. It was like a can opener — it just peeled the top back," said NTSB Chairman Deborah Hersman. "If you could see the picture, you would be shocked that there weren't fatalities."

The safety board recommended that the motor carrier administration prohibit commercial bus drivers from talking on cellphones except in emergencies and that it encourage states to do the same for school bus drivers.

The agency responded that it would study whether a new rule was needed and that the study would include whether cellphone use by all commercial drivers, including truck drivers, should be prohibited. It hoped to have answers last October.

An official for the motor carrier administration declined comment when contacted by The Associated Press.

Safety advocates filed a petition with the Transportation Department on Thursday asking for a rule barring commercial drivers from using cellphones, texting devices and other electronic gadgets.

"What this petition is about is it's saying, 'Let's get in front of the problem.' There are a lot of technologies that are coming online that are going to be used by commercial operators — Internet access and what have you," said Jacqueline Gillan, vice president for Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety.

Research clearly shows that cellphone use distracts drivers, safety experts say.

"When you are texting and talking on the phone, you might be going through the motions of doing what you need to be doing, but your head is not in the game," Hersman said.

As research has mounted, industry's resistance to regulation has faded.

"I don't know of any motorcoach operator that tolerates drivers using cellphones for any purpose unless they're pulling over for an emergency," said Victor Parra, president and chief executive of United Motorcoach Association, which represents tour bus operators.

Pete Pantuso, president of the American Bus Association, said a ban "is certainly something we do not oppose at all."

The American Trucking Associations is neutral on a ban on cellphone use by truck drivers until they see the wording of a proposal, but "we think cellphones and other electronic equipment should have some policies and regulations on them to prevent their misuse," said spokesman Clayton Boyce.

Even the wireless industry, formerly opponents of restrictions, supports a texting ban and is neutral on restricting cellphone use by drivers.

Seventeen states and the District of Columbia prohibit school bus drivers from using cellphones while driving. Eighteen states and the District of Columbia have passed laws making texting while driving illegal.

A group of Democratic members of Congress introduced a bill this summer requiring states to ban texting or e-mailing while operating a moving vehicle or lose 25% of their annual federal highway funding. It would be patterned after Congress' requirement that states adopt a national drunken driving ban.

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/wireless/2 ... -bus_N.htm

Amazing how many levels of government, from the tiny town councils up to the federal level, have to commission studies before anyone renders a judgment. Some of these studies can take years, long after many of those study-ordering officials have retired or left office.

Who was it that said " A Gov't big enough to give you everything can also take everything away from you".

I am a commercial driver and I hate thinking about this will pass because there are sometimes that you need to make a phone call to your dispatcher, or the person/group your picking up, especially if you get stuck in traffic or some other problem

As a retire professional driver, Class A, double/triple, tanker, haz-mat and unlimited passenger endorsements, I think it is long overdue.
Get off the road to make calls. Drivers somehow got along without cell phone calls for many years and they can do it now for their safety and the safety of everyone else on the roads and highways.

Originally Posted by JohnDoe2

As a retire professional driver, Class A, double/triple, tanker, haz-mat and unlimited passenger endorsements, I think it is long overdue.
Get off the road to make calls. Drivers somehow got along without cell phone calls for many years and they can do it now for their safety and the safety of everyone else on the roads and highways.

As usual, we are the only ones in agreement. Obviously people on ALIPAC think that driving and texting is perfectly acceptable while driving. PULL OVER!! If your kid was killed because of this you would change your story.

DAMN OBAMA TAKING MY RIGHT TO TEXT AND DRIVE!! HOW DARE HE!!
/sarcasm

RELATED

U.S.: Distracted driving 'a menace to society'

http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-172922.html