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NTSB Backs Transportation Dept.'s Trucker Phone Ban

Sep 14, 2011, 7:40 AM by Eric M. Zeman

The National Transportation Safety Board has added its support to a draft measure proposed by the Department of Transportation that would ban commercial truck drivers from using cell phones while on the road. "Distracted driving is becoming increasingly prevalent, exacerbating the danger we encounter daily on our roadways," said NTSB Chairman Deborah A.P. Hersman in a statement. "It can be especially lethal when the distracted driver is at the wheel of a vehicle that weighs 40 tons and travels at highway speeds." The Transportation Department floated the ant-cellphone measure for truck drivers last year and has been taking comments on it. While the NTSB is an advisory group and cannot create policy, it can influence the government's final decision. The American Trucking Association backs the measure, as well. Many states have already enacted legislation that makes it illegal to use handsets while driving.

New York Times »

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Comments

This forum is closed.

This forum is closed.

paulflorez

Sep 15, 2011, 4:05 PM

There are truckers who play World of WarCraft while driving!

They have their laptops mounted alongside them and use cellular internet connections. While they are in control of 21,000 lbs. of steel running at 50 - 70 miles per hour, they are also busy fighting monsters and mages in fantasy land.

If you are a trucker, your job is to stay in constant control of your vehicle and pay attention to the road. If you need to communicate, use a Bluetooth device so that your eyes can stay on the road. If you need to look somewhere else other than the road, eat, etc, pull over and take care of business. If your employer is not giving you time to eat, sleep, or take care of business while not driving, then they should be heavily fined and risk losing their business license.

Sometimes it's the truckers fa...
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scubasnac9

Sep 14, 2011, 9:12 AM

It starts with phones...

So they want to ban phones? What about the other things truckers do, like talk on the radio, that must be extremely distracting. They have to look up to get the receiver, then press the little button and then think about what they are going to say and then say it. Sounds much more difficult to do while driving a 40ton rig than talking on a cell phone. What about truckers eating while they are driving, wouldn't that be worse than a cell phone or even a cell phone with blue tooth connected? It will start with truckers for "our safety" and then will move to the rest of us. Its all about control and power. They will take more. This is just a wolf in sheep's clothing here people, wake up!

Nanny Government = Nanny State = No Rights!!

NonBiasedRep

In NY there is no texting or calling unless you are a medical response team. This goes for all people.

Tofuchong

Hey! George Bush said there ought to be a limit on freedom! Who are you to disagree with the president? Do you hate America!?!!?!?

lol just kiddin...

Fredd

Too many people forget that, along with rights, there are duties. It is not a one-way street.

paulflorez

Nice slippery slope argument. It all started with banning driving while drink...

"So they want to ban drinking and driving? What about the other things truckers do, like talk on the radio, that must be extremely distracting. They have to look up t...
(continues)

Renaldo

Sep 14, 2011, 9:03 AM

As A Bus Driver and a Business Owner

This has been an ongoing issue for years in transportation for years. Truckers and other commerical vechicles need to keep in constant communication with shippers and vendors to insure deliveries are made on time and if there is changes to the loads. There are many more passenger cars on the road than trucks. Truckers and other large vechicle drivers studies have shown that we think at a different rate, due to the processing of constant information given to us. Most truckers are owner operators, this means they own the company.

NTSB needs to visit cellphones as a whole not just to a few truckers. Make it safe for everybody.

Maybe we can get MAC and Mary Kay to teach women not to put on makeup while driving, and gilette to teach men n...
(continues)

Researcher

And you can not eat, change the radio, put in a tape/CD, talk to any one and blink or sneeze!

Tofuchong

I really dont care if you think at a different rate - I'm not willing to put my life on the line so you can make your delivery on time. I'm sure everybody else agrees.

Dreyfous23

Still doesn't dismiss the fact that drivers of larger vehicles should be paying attention to the road 100% of the time.

I agree, it should be a 100% ban across the board for all drivers. Cellphone usage should be restricted to Bluetooth usage.

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Mark_S

Sep 14, 2011, 1:10 PM

"Keep on Truckin".........

Top dash mounted full duplex speakers. Both hands free for gear shifting and steering.

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