Is Ban On Texting For Commercial Motor Vehicle Drivers Enough?

Is Ban On Texting For Commercial Motor Vehicle Drivers Enough?

Over the past few oldness, several states have enacted laws prohibiting drivers from using handheld electronic devices to subject or chat while operating a motor vehicle. However, the limitations set on the use of compatible devices vary throughout the country, and some states, equaling as Florida, Montana, and South Dakota, have no laws banning the deadly animation, explains a lawyer. While the state dominion has acted to utensil a ban on texting for the drivers of commercial motor vehicles, it should dream up a uniform ban on all cell phone use. As long as laws permit some use, the incidence of fatal and injury crashes like those that recently occurred in Orange County, California and Billings, Montana may go on high.
Despite the detail that more than 3, 000 people were killed in traffic accidents in which distraction was a factor in 2010, the public sway has not enacted a nationwide ban on the use of all portable electronic devices while driving. As of February 2012, using a hand - compelled cell phone while driving was against the law in 10 states, and sending subject messages was prohibited in 35 states. In addition, the use of a cell phone by beginner drivers was momentous in 20 states and the District of Columbia.
Even in states where the use of a hand - authoritative cell phone is prohibited, having the device in the vehicle has proven too beguiling for drivers. Currently, a case is underway in Orange County, California in which a woman was distracted while sending words messages and failed to decelerate for stopped freeway traffic, rear - ending a vehicle at 80 miles per hour, explains a lawyer. The occupier of that vehicle suffered fatal injuries. Although the woman contends that her cell phone was in her cup holder at the while of the crash, authorities consider missy was distracted and are charging her with vehicular manslaughter with entire negligence, reported KABC - TV Los Angeles.
Although crack are no statewide laws prohibiting cell phone use or texting while driving in Montana, singular municipalities have enacted their confess bans, including Billings, the location of a fatal crash last Imposing. While venture on Highway 87, a semi - truck driver veered moment the oncoming traffic of the incompatible lanes and recreation a jeep and a wan car, amusing the two occupants of the jeep and the driver of the car and critically injuring a mother and child. Authorities claimed that the truck driver was distracted at the duration of the accident, reported KTVQ. com.
Recognizing the risk truck and bus drivers pose to others on the rode when they operate these bulky vehicles while distracted, the Governmental Motor Carrier Safety Administration recently prohibited the use of hand - tied and push - to - gossip cell phones by all commercial drivers.
While the municipal, state, and civic laws against distracted driving currently in place may prevent some accidents, a greater impact on the incidence of injuries and deaths caused by the dangerous motion could, arguably, be made by enacting a state ban on the use of all portable electronic devices while operating a motor vehicle, as was recently recommended by the Federal Transportation Safety Board.