Truckers Banned from Texting While Driving

In a federal ban that went into effect on January 26, 2010, the Department of Transportation has made it illegal for truckers to send or read text messages while driving. The ban does not apply to speaking on cell phones. The new rules apply to drivers of interstate buses and trucks over 10,000 pounds as well as local drivers like those who drive Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART), or Fort Worth Transportation (the "T") vehicles.

This news comes only a few weeks after President Obama signed an executive order that went into effect December 31, 2009 that federal employees cannot use cell phones at all, for texting or talking, while driving government owned vehicles or while driving with government equipment.

In Texas, texting is already illegal for school bus drivers, drivers under the age of 18, and those driving in a school zone or transporting a child. 19 states completely prohibit texting while driving.

The ban does not affect the use of onboard devices used by dispatchers to communicate with drivers, but many of these systems don't work if the vehicle is in motion. According to the American Bus Association, this ban agrees with safety standards already in place by the industry. "A lot of our members already have policies in place," said President Pete Pantuso. "It's just safe and smart."

Truckers caught texting face civil or criminal penalties of up to $2,750. They could also lose the authority to operate these vehicles. Since the ban is mandated by a federal organization, it will most likely be enforced by state inspectors and highway patrol officers.

Why is texting while driving so dangerous, especially for truckers and bus drivers? A Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration study showed that a truck driver dialing a cell phone is 6 times more likely to crash; a driver looking at a dispatch device is 10 times more likely to crash; and a driver texting on a cell phone is 23 times more likely to crash. Research from the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute backs this up, showing that truckers who text are 23 times more likely to get into a crash or near-crash than truckers not texting.

Although it may seem harmless and many drivers do it every day, texting while driving, especially a large vehicle or one carrying many people, forces the driver to take his or her attention away from the road for too long. Drivers who send and receive text messages take their eyes off of the road for an average of 4.6 seconds out of every 6 seconds. At 55 mph, this means a driver can travel the entire length of a football field, including the end zones, without looking at the road.