US proposes cellphone ban for truck drivers

[Alpha Protocol]

I think that cell phones shouldn't be banned for truck and bus drivers. I don't think we should descriminate against someone just because they drive a truck. However, I believe that the trucking companies should be allowed to decide whether or not they want to permit their truckers to use cell phones while driving or not.

WASHINGTON - The U.S. government on Friday proposed prohibiting commercial truck and bus drivers from using cellphones while behind the wheel.

The Transportation Department rule would affect approximately 4 million drivers, who are already banned by the government from texting while working.

The proposal is the latest move in Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood's stepped-up campaign against distracted driving in which he has questioned cellphone use in passenger cars and "hands free" communications technology.

"Every time a commercial truck or bus driver takes his or her eyes off the road to use a cellphone, even for a few seconds, the driver places everyone around them at risk," LaHood said in a statement.

Nearly 5,000 people were killed and another 500,000 were hurt in crashes of all vehicles involving a distracted driver in 2009, government safety figures show.

Inattention was a factor in 9 percent of large truck crashes, which fell overall in 2009 from the previous year. Most truck crashes involve collisions with other vehicles.

Read more: http://www.cnbc.com/id/40724585

[giblets]

I think that cell phones shouldn't be banned for truck and bus drivers. I don't think we should descriminate against someone just because they drive a truck.

Why not? Commercial trucks and buses are much larger than cars, so they are more dangerous. It makes sense for them to be more strictly regulated.

[SlowwHand]

other. They should be banned in any moving vehicle. Get caught doing it, you get jerked out of your vehicle and tazed.

[Wezil]

The article doesn't state whether it is an outright ban or a "hands free" requirement but either way, meh.

Get back to me when they talk about a CB ban.

One is bad the other is good?

[Provost Harrison]

Well in that case there should be a ban on the driver being able to talk to each other on the phone.

OK, to ban people speaking on them using their hands...fair enough...but this is just getting a bit carried away.

[SlowwHand]

And taze Wezil, just to be safe. You know he has it coming for something.

[Wezil]

And taze Wezil, just to be safe. You know he has it coming for something.

We have a "hands free" requirement in Ontario for cell phones (for all drivers) but implementation of CB ban for truckers is on hold. Banning them from cell phones while allowing CBs sounds like a PR/political gimmick to me. It will give people a warm fuzzy feeling while not addressing the issue.

[SlowwHand]

They should ban CBs too,but I don't see what that has to do with the need to taze you. Is it intended to divert attention? Didn't work, did it?

[Wezil]

They should ban CBs too,

They will go to a hands free requirement as well but it will take some time.

but I don't see what that has to do with the need to taze you. Is it intended to divert attention? Didn't work, did it?

I was diverting attention as I have a vested interest. A good % of my income comes about as a result of trucks crashing. Commence tasering.


My favourite trucker story from 2010:

An Ontario truck driver doing his own dental work while at the wheel has been charged by provincial police.

Officers pulled over a tractor-trailer on Highway 402 near Sarnia, Ont., on June 30 after another driver reported a truck travelling erratically.

When they stopped the driver, they found he was trying to extract his own tooth and steer the truck at the same time.

Police said the driver had tied a string around the tooth and then attached the string to the roof of the cab, waiting for what police said was "one good bump" to pull the tooth out.

Police said the makeshift dentistry worked, as the tooth lay on the seat beside the driver when he was stopped.

The 58-year-old driver from Kitchener, Ont., has been charged with careless driving.

Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/windsor/sto...#ixzz19MVJkuVx

[BlackCat]

I suggest that stupid drivers are banned

Just returned from cristmas and could have had some fun with heavy arty in the front

[C0ckney]

this thread reminds me of being on the 298 'party bus' to lapa a few weeks ago. about 100 people on a bus with a 55 maximum, i'm stood next to the driver, who's having a furious row with his misses on the phone while driving the bus through the city streets at about 80km/hr (limited to 60 my arse!). meanwhile the guy next to me cracks open a can of beer and i start negotiations with the conductor for a discount for not going through the barrier (meaning he can pocket the money).

[Aeson]

CBs = Smokey and the Bandit, Big Trouble in Little China
Cellphones = girly movies I haven't watched

End of discussion!

[Aeson]

CBs = Smokey and the Bandit, Big Trouble in Little China
Cellphones = girly movies I haven't watched

End of discussion!

[Aeson]

I meant to end it before the dp, but my cellphone's connection to the internet is crap. (Whereas I've never had any problems with my CB connection to the internet, so +1 to end of discussion!)

[Hauldren Collider]

I'd say ban cell phones in all vehicles, handsfree included. It's like drunk driving, and endangers other people.