Truck, Bus Texting-While-Driving Banned

(CBS)  It is now illegal for any commercial driver, including truckers and bus drivers, to engage in text messaging while driving.

The Transportation Department prohibition went into effect Tuesday, reports CBS News Correspondent Transportation Correspondent Nancy Cordes.

In 2008, nearly 6,000 people died in accidents related to distracted drivers, and more than half-a-million were injured.

That caught the attention of the Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, who told reporters, "We're gonna set the highest bar possible. ... Any distraction that takes two hands off the wheel and eyes off the windshield should not be allowed."

Nineteen states and the District of Columbia already ban texting-while-driving any vehicle.

The new policy targets commercial vehicles nationwide.

Drivers will face a fine of up to $2,750 dollars if they're caught in the act.

Advocates welcome the new ban, but say more needs to be done. "I think it is a cultural change that is needed," says Judy Stone, president of Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, "and I think it's going to take us awhile."

A big challenge, Cordes points out, will be enforcement. It's often difficult to catch texting-while-driving -- until it's too late and an accident occurs.

The move is the latest in a series of actions by the Transportation Department to combat distracted driving since LaHood held a national summit on the issue last September.

[NoTexting]

Join the fight against Texting While Driving by signing the pledge at http://www.iwillnottextanddrive.com

[FordCommercial]

It is really a great decision from government. Now a days there are lots of truck and bus accident taking place due to drivers texting or talking on phone while driving. Those drivers even dont think that if accident takes place many people can die or can seriously get injured or even assest of some poor person can get destroyed.I am glad to here the restriction what government has applied to all drivers to avoid accidents and its my personal request that if any of the drivers are caught texting or talking on phone while driving please take a strict decision against them.
All the best for making more great decision.

Regards.

<a href=http://www.commercialtrucksinusa.com>FordCommercial</a>

[grevilo]

It is now possible to dial your phone, check and reply to voicemail, check and reply to email, even send text messages without touching your phone ? simply with the power of your voice. This allows drivers to keep their hands on the wheel and their eyes on the road at all times.
www.fdirep.com/coffield or call 800-580-0054

[clearfishbowl]

I know this is focused toward professional drivers, but there is a teen program called Teens Against Distracted Driving (TADD) which is gaining popularity. Teenagers get a TADD bracelet when they sign a pledge to not text while driving. It is kind of a cool program. www.teenagersagainstdistracteddriving.com

[TXDave]

Hey, it's already illegal to drive distracted. This smacks of a desperate attempt for Obama to claim he's accomplished *something* other than spending our children's money.

Pathetic - we'll probably hear all about it in the State of the Union speech.

[dontknowitall]

What the **** ever happened to common sense. I drive to work and see all of these ****** nitwits either putting on makeup,texting, reading the paper or talking on their cellphone and writing while driving. And at speeds of up 70 MPH. Drifting into other lanes, not seeing what is going on around them, Speeding up and then slowing down. Get the **** off of the road.

[KrystalKid]

80% percent of all rear end collisions (the most frequent vehicle accident) are caused by driver inattention, following too closely, external distraction (talking on cell phones, shaving, applying makeup, fiddling with the radio or CD player, texting, etc.) and poor judgment. I doubt if we'll ever stop the madness so I got one of these sparebumper.com