US proposes cellphone ban for truck drivers

[Grid]

I think that cell phones shouldn't be banned for truck and bus drivers. I don't think we should discriminate 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

[Bougainvillea]

I think a little common sense is what people need. They shouldn't use their phones if too busy or it isn't an emergency. But stupidity is a natural drive for a large number of people. :P

[Daniel_]

It should be banned for all drivers. Period. (While there behind the wheel, I mean).

The primary cause of car accidents these days is driver distraction, and if people are to arrogant to get off their cell phones,while driving, then I believe they should be severely punished, for endangering the lives of their own idiot selves, and more importantly, those around them.

[Coolcar65]

Their not discriminting anything. The company just doesent want to be held responcible for an accident caused by phone. If you think about it its kind of smart. This way everybody is fine.

[Amnesiac]

Cell phones should be restricted to hands free or nothing. I've seen plenty of people on the road driving badly because they're talking on their phones.

[goat]

Since it is the DOT purposing the rule it can only be applied to those they have jurisdiction over. The commerce clause of the US constitution would prohibit the feds from directly baning cellphone use by anyone else but those directly involved in interstate commerce. The only other thing the feds could do is threaten to pas a law withholding highway funds from states that didn't regulate cellphone use. That is what they did with drinking age laws. This is the same clause that forcing people to buy health insurance violates. We shall see what the courts rule on that one.