We’ve all heard it before:
texting while driving is dangerous and illegal. Yet, data shows the problem
persists—most notably among commercial drivers.
From July 13-19 the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) conducted its Safe Driver Week. As part of that enforcement campaign, texting or using a handheld device was a frequently cited violation. Commercial motor vehicle drivers received 107 warnings and 79 tickets/citations for texting/using a handheld device while operating a commercial motor vehicle.
The consequences go beyond fines as one driver found out earlier this year. In April, a Florida dump truck driver was texting when he crashed into a pickup, killing its driver. He was sentenced to eight years in prison, plus seven years of probation. Unfortunately, this is not an isolated incident and carriers need to do better.
WHAT EXACTLY IS “TEXTING”
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- Manually entering or reading text on an electronic device
- Sending messages, emails, or instant messages
- Accessing web pages or pressing multiple buttons to make a call
FINES AND PENALTIES
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- Drivers can be fined up to $2,750
- Employers may face fines up to $11,000 for allowing or requiring texting
while driving - Multiple violations can lead to FMCSA disqualification and loss of CDL
Texting while driving is one of the most dangerous forms of distracted driving
because it combines visual, manual and cognitive distractions all at once.
Distraction impairs performance and reduces a driver’s awareness. It makes
drivers slower to notice and less able to safely respond to critical events on the
road. In fact, studies show that the impairments associated with using a cell
phone while driving can be as profound as those associated with driving while
impaired.