FMCSA Considers Compromise for Truck Driver Cell Phone Ban

Post Date: July 20th, 2011

Recently the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration proposed a new restriction on cell phone use for bus drivers and truck drivers. The FMCSA made a public statement with their proposal and offered alternatives as well. As a part of the new rule, the FMCA gave three options:

Do nothing
Ban cell phones entirely
Allow cell phone use only with a hands-free device, but ban dialing or other acts that would manipulate a cell phone while driving.

The FMCSA received more than 400 calls from individuals, interest groups, and companies after their announcement. Most liked the new rule allowing the use of hands free devices, but banning the actual handling of a cell phone while behind the wheel. In reconsidering this compromise, the FMCSA cited a study that Virginia Tech performed on distracted drivers. The study concluded that talking on a hands-free device did not create as big of a distraction as dialing. The FMCSA took note that there was insignificant evidence to show that talking on the phone with a hands-free device posed a significant risk.

Many truck drivers do take their responsibility to road safety seriously, but there are many who use distracting devices on the road. If you have been injured in a Missouri truck accident that was because of a distracted truck driver call an experienced Missouri truck accident attorney. We have several experts to rebuild a truck accident to determine if the truck driver was in error. Call 877.SUE.TRKS to speak to an experienced truck accident attorney today. We want to ensure your rights are protected and you receive the compensation you deserve.

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Joshua P. Myers is the owner and President of Myers Injury Law, LLC and a founding partner of Schultz & Myers, LLC. Based in St. Louis, Missouri, his personal injury law firm routinely handles tractor-trailer accidents that result in personal injury or death throughout the Midwest. If you have been hurt or have lost a loved one due to the negligence of another driver, please contact a truck accident attorney to learn your rights. It is always free to discuss your case and there are never any attorney’s fees until we recover on your behalf.

Tags: federal motor carrier safety regulations, fmcsa, missouri truck accident lawyer, truck drivers
Posted in Missouri Truck Accidents, Texting While Driving, Truck Accident News | No Comments »

Ban on Texting and Driving Instituted on Truck Drivers

Post Date: November 21st, 2010

Truck Ban on Texting While Driving Texting while operating a motor vehicle is an ongoing problem because it is dangerous. It is dangerous to text and drive a passenger vehicle, but even more dangerous to text while operating a semi-truck with destructive power. Texting while driving has been the topic of constant debate and the laws are beginning to change. As a truck accident attorney in Missouri, I was happy to find out that a texting ban has finally been placed on truck drivers.

In the early months of 2010, the Secretary of Transportation, Ray LaHood, banned truck drivers from texting while driving in an attempt to minimize tractor-trailer related accidents. When the announcement came, the ban was only a safety regulatory guideline for trucking companies to follow. It wasn’t until the end of October that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration made the text ban an official rule, which became permanent.

The final ruling is specifically aimed at texting and not just talking on the phone while driving. Studies have shown that texting while driving impairs a person’s attention much worse and increases the likelihood of causing a serious accident. Although there are many distractions that exist in semi-truck’s cab, texting while driving is 23 times more likely to cause an accident that results in injury. Support of the ban is widespread, but some groups such as the American Association for Justice doesn’t think the rule goes far enough. Safety advocacy groups want the other distractions in the cab of a semi-truck to be banned.

While texting may have become the preferred way to communicate, we can’t ignore the effects it can have while operation a motor vehicle. The texting ban on truck drivers may reduce the amount of tractor-trailer accidents on the road, but there are many ways a truck driver can become distracted. If you have been seriously injured in an accident involving a tractor-trailer, please call an experienced truck accident attorney. Trucking companies can be ruthless when it comes to fighting a personal injury suit, so call 877.SUE.TRKS and let us fight for you.

Joshua P. Myers is the owner and President of Myers Injury Law, LLC and a founding partner of Schultz & Myers, LLC. Based in St. Louis, Missouri, his Missouri Truck Accident Law Firm routinely handles semi-truck accidents that result in personal injury or death throughout the Midwest. If you have been hurt or have lost a loved one due to the negligence of another driver, please contact a truck accident attorney to learn your rights. It is always free to discuss your case and there are never any attorney’s fees until we recover on your behalf.

Tags: ban, driver, drivers, driving, nhtsa, semi, semi-truck, texting, truck
Posted in IL Truck Accidents, Texting While Driving, Truck Accident News | No Comments »

New Law Bans Texting While Driving For Truck Drivers

Post Date: October 12th, 2010

At last the Federal Government has made the decision to enforce a ban on drivers of commercial vehicles texting while driving. While I applaud this move, I cannot help wondering why this stance is not applicable to all vehicles.

Looking at the rationale behind the ban, there is plenty of evidence to support the stance I, as an experienced Missouri Truck Accident Lawyer, have always held, that texting and truck driving are a deadly combination. It doesn’t take research to convince me that texting at the wheel means the truck driver’s attention is not on the road ahead for long enough to put at risk the lives of others sharing that road with the trucker.

And now there is research to support my view point, and it comes from none other than the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). It seems that research has revealed that texting while driving makes the trucker a massive 23. 2 times more likely to have an accident than drivers who do not indulge in this practice. No doubt, texting while driving is a major cause of truck accidents.

The driver may think he is only glancing away from the road for a miniscule period of time, but that is just not true. Some estimates put the length of time not attending to the road ahead at around four seconds. Now if you compare this with the guideline frequently used for keeping a safe distance behind the vehicle in front, the two second rule, the potential for disaster is clear. Look away for four seconds and you may look back just in time to realize that you are shunting into the back of the vehicle in front of you.

Eyewitness reports of many semi- truck accidents reveal that it is commonly reported that the trucker did not appear to brake before colliding with other vehicles. Inattention due to texting may be one reason for this.

In addition, most of us who are regularly on the highway have had the startling experience of seeing a massive truck ahead meander across the line between lanes seemingly inexplicably, or, even more threateningly, lurch toward us. Could this have been due to text messaging?

If this happens to you, you will find out how cool you are under pressure. Not all of us can remain stead; some will flinch. You may even appear to be the cause a crash.

If you have suffered injury or loss due to an accident with a texting or distracted trucker, my experience as a Missouri Semi-Truck Accident Attorney is readily available to you. In addition, there is a federal regulation to support you.

If you have been injured in a truck accident and would like more information about what can be done for you, please feel free to call our firm at 877-SUE-TRKS. We specialize in handling Missouri truck accidents. Moreover, there is never a cost to talk about your case and our fee is only a percentage of what we recover for you. Thus, it doesn’t cost you any money for us to get started.

Tags: driving, fmcsa, texting, while
Posted in Texting While Driving, Truck Accident News | No Comments »

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