The Federal Government's Ban on Trucker Texting

Each year you will find thousands of trucking accidents caused by dangerous driving by truck operators. Several of these accidents are associated with truckers who are texting whilst they drive.

Statistics from the U.S. National Safety Council (January 2010) state you will find at least 200,000 people in accidents every year due to texting plus a recent study at the University of Utah showed there is 23 times greater risk of accident when the driver is texting.

When large commercial trucks are involved in accidents, the results usually involve death or brain injuries. Several also involve other family cars who are on the road in the truck's path during the time of the accident.

The government answered the public cry about this issue with a ban on all hand-held texting by drivers of large trucks plus buses. They are hoping this immediate ban will cut down on the rate of trucker texting mishaps.

Fines of up to $2,750 will be placed upon those truckers who text whilst drive as of now because the ban is effective immediately, according to Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. Another texting ban was implemented to cover drivers of federal government vehicles in December 2009.

"We want the drivers of big rigs plus buses and those who share the roads with them to be safe," LaHood released in his statement. "This is a crucial safety step and we will be taking more to eliminate the threat of distracted driving."

There was quite a lot of research in the areas of calculating how long truckers took their eyes away from the road while sending or getting text messages. This trucker texting ban is a direct reaction to the information collected from these studies.

Already you will find about 24 states in the U.S. and many private companies of drivers who've placed bans on texting drivers of all motor vehicles and others are jumping on board daily. In fact, federal legislation has been introduced to establish a country-wide ban of texting whilst driving plus is expected to be reviewed soon.

Those parents who have teen drivers can certainly talk with their kids about how texting along with driving can lead to death or injury. Teen drivers are often the most inexperienced and most likely to text while driving their vehicle. Many parents are choosing to take their own action and placing their own texting bans on their kids whilst driving.

Regardless of whether you're driving your own personal vehicle or are the operator of a large commercial truck, texting while driving is totally irresponsible. This foolish act can cause death of the driver, death of innocent witnesses or horrendous injury to those involved.

In the past Americans have spoke out passionately against drunk drivers and the same is starting to happen against texting drivers. Until there is an American-wide legal ban on texting while driving, it is up to each driver to make the right choice.