Texting While Driving Ban Takes Effect for Truck and Bus Drivers

January 2010

Drivers of commercial trucks and buses are now banned from texting while driving. The new legislation, announced by the U.S. Secretary of Transportation, takes effect immediately.

The Department of Transportation (DOT) defines a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) as:

• Weighing 10,001 pounds or more
• Transporting hazardous materials
• Designed or used to carry 9 or more people, including the driver, for compensation
• Designed or used to carry 16 or more people, including the driver, not for compensation
• Drivers of such vehicles who are in violation of the law may be subject to civil or criminal penalties of up to $2,750, the DOT said in a press release.

The new legislation is a part of the Department of Transportation's continuing effort to cut down on distracted driving. In September, it held a two-day summit on the issue in Washington. This month, the department announced the creation of the advocacy group FocusDriven, a nonprofit that is modeled after Mothers Against Drunk Driving.

Research shows that drivers who text behind the wheel take their eyes off the road for an average of 4.6 out of every 6 seconds. The length of a football field can be traveled in that amount of time on the highway.

One of the country's largest groups representing professional truck drivers – the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association – expressed support for the aim of the legislation but took issue with its execution. The association says that making the law effective immediately doesn't follow normal rulemaking processes and could lead to problems with implementation and enforcement.