As part of its campaign to put an end to the practice of distracted driving:
The U.S. Department of Transportation today proposed a new safety regulation that would specifically prohibit interstate commercial truck and bus drivers from using hand-held cell phones while operating a commercial motor vehicle (CMV).
“Every time a commercial truck or bus driver takes his or her eyes off the road to use a cell phone, even for a few seconds, the driver places everyone around them at risk,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary @RayLaHood. “This proposed rule will go a long way toward keeping a driver’s full attention focused on the road.”
Well now, let’s talk a little bit about truck drivers taking their eyes off the road Ray. This statement right here by the Secretary tells me he has NEVER been in a tractor trailer while out on the road. This statement is ludicrous at best for him to say “every time” truck drivers take their eyes off the road they put everybody around them in danger. This proposed rule will NOT make any difference’s as to whether a trucker keeps his or her eyes on the road.
If @RayLahood had ever been in a tractor trailer while out on the road – then he would know it is impossible for a truck driver to keep their eyes on the road 100% of the time behind the wheel. There are many things a truck driver has to keep an eye on while driving a truck. Gauges, speed, mirrors, other drivers, traffic, weather conditions, etc. just to name a few.
All this new rule does is give authorities the right to check cell phone records at anytime they want – accident or no accident. It is a complete disregard for a truck drivers privacy. We as truck drivers realize that driving and talking or sending text messages from a hand held device is dangerous – but we also realize that sometimes it is necessary to do so.
In all my life I have never seen such an unorganized group such as the US DOT on what their priorities SHOULD be. 4 million truck drivers are on the road everyday in the US and safe parking is not sufficient – and the USDOT has the authority to DO SOMETHING about it but won’t. What do they do you ask? The USDOT comes up with another lame excuse just as they always have and then proposes another asinine idea or law. It is no-wonder this administration is the laughing stock of the US.
I guess I shouldn’t say laughing stock because really it is truly sad. With all the things that are wrong in the US today that we have people in power that could get things done to fix it or make it better but don’t have a clue as to what they are doing. I just hope that come January that things change for the better. If not then hopefully we can survive until 2012 and bring about some real changes – instead of the fantasies that the people in power have today.
© 2010, Truck Drivers News Blog. All rights reserved.
If they ban cell phone use the may as well ban standard transmissions, turn signal switchs, manual light switches and any other device controled by the driver. What a bunch of ignorant asses we have in charge of making laws. Keep making up laws so as to look productive. I will watch as the trucking industry gets non productive and everyone starves. I love our Communist Country. When will they allow people to be punished in public by lashings like the animals in other countries? I dare them to try and do our jobs for one month. I see many companies operating with junk equipment already. How about you start there you pompous asses.