The chorus against the use of mobile communications devices while driving is growing louder, with
Last month, LaHood announced federal guidance to expressly prohibit text messaging by drivers of commercial vehicles such as large trucks and buses. Truck and bus drivers running afoul of the new regulations would be subject to civil or criminal penalties of up to $2,750. “We want the drivers of big rigs and buses and those who share the roads with them to be safe,” he said in a statement. “This is an important safety step and we will be taking more to eliminate the threat of distracted driving.”
Research by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration shows that drivers who send and receive text messages take their eyes off the road for an average of 4.6 seconds out of every 6 seconds while texting.
Efforts to ban the practice are also advancing at the state level. The
“AIA supports federal and state efforts to ban texting while driving,” Tammy Velasquez, AIA VP and director of state affairs. “Drivers should not be multi-tasking while driving. Drivers should focus their attention on the road. As accidents lead to higher auto insurance rates, it pays to keep both eyes on the road at all times.”
The increased visibility of the distracted driving problem may already be paying dividends. San Diego-based
