For quite a while now, many truck and bus companies have had policies banning the use of hand-held cell phones while on the road.
But this year, the hand-held ban is now a federal law punishable by big fines.
The rule, announced by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, went into effect on January 3. It prohibits interstate truck and bus drivers from holding or reaching for a cell phone while driving. Drivers can use their phones with hands-free devices, such as a wired or Bluetooth headset, or a single-button control to initiate, answer or end calls.
Drivers who violate the rule face a penalty of up to $2,750 for each offense. Companies that allow their drivers to use hand-held cell phones while driving can receive a maximum penalty of $11,000.
FMCSA Administrator Anne S. Ferro called the rule “a giant leap for safety.”
“It’s just too dangerous for drivers to use a hand-held cell phone while operating a commercial vehicle,” Ferro said in a press release. “Drivers must keep their eyes on the road, hands on the wheel and head in the game when operating on our roads. Lives are at stake.”
The U.S. Department of Transportation estimates four million commercial drivers will be affected by the rule.
Many truck drivers interviewed by news organizations say they had already adopted safe cell phone habits long before the rule came to be.
Minnesota Trucking Association President John Hausladen, interviewed by the Daily Globe of Worthington, Minn., said: “Many companies have already directed their drivers not to use cell phones, so they’re ahead of the government.”
For a list of Frequently Asked Questions about the federal hand-held rule, click here.
No comments yet.