Secpro
01-28-2010, 01:30 PM
Federal Texting While Driving Ban Goes into Effect
Posted: Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Updated: January 27th, 2010 01:08 PM GMT-05:00
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Story by channel3000.com
MADISON, Wis. --
Starting Tuesday, it is illegal for semitrailer or bus drivers to text message while driving.
The new federal ban carries a hefty fine, but the question now is whether a new federal law will really stop texting while driving.
The federal ban prohibits all interstate commercial vehicle drivers from texting while driving, including semitrailer drivers.
The hope is to cut down on distractions that that lead to crashes.
The U.S. Department of Transportation said that in 2008 6,000 people were killed in crashes involving distracted driving and 500,000 were injured.
But traffic experts and drivers alike said they aren't sure how the ban can be enforced.
"We're not sure how we're going to work that out. Often dialogue between a law enforcement officer and the driver will clear some of that up, but in some cases law enforcement is just simply not going to be able to tell," Dan Lonsdorf, of the Wisconsin State Patrol.
"I think they're going to do it until they get caught. I think they will be some guys that will quit," said Don Reid, a truck driver from Illinois.
"I think companies would have to be the ones who'd enforce it," said Justin Kahren, a truck driver from Emerald, Wis.
Some trucking and bus companies already have policies that prohibit drivers from texting or using their phones at all.
Truckers said there's "no excuse" for truckers to text because it's hard to maintain control of the rig and text.
At a Madison area truck stop, truckers said they are all for the ban -- even for truckers and the public alike who they say they constantly see texting.
Commercial drivers caught texting now face up to $2,750 in fines.
Copyright 2010 by Channel 3000. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Posted: Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Updated: January 27th, 2010 01:08 PM GMT-05:00
Most Read Most E-mailed E-mail Article Print Article
Story by channel3000.com
MADISON, Wis. --
Starting Tuesday, it is illegal for semitrailer or bus drivers to text message while driving.
The new federal ban carries a hefty fine, but the question now is whether a new federal law will really stop texting while driving.
The federal ban prohibits all interstate commercial vehicle drivers from texting while driving, including semitrailer drivers.
The hope is to cut down on distractions that that lead to crashes.
The U.S. Department of Transportation said that in 2008 6,000 people were killed in crashes involving distracted driving and 500,000 were injured.
But traffic experts and drivers alike said they aren't sure how the ban can be enforced.
"We're not sure how we're going to work that out. Often dialogue between a law enforcement officer and the driver will clear some of that up, but in some cases law enforcement is just simply not going to be able to tell," Dan Lonsdorf, of the Wisconsin State Patrol.
"I think they're going to do it until they get caught. I think they will be some guys that will quit," said Don Reid, a truck driver from Illinois.
"I think companies would have to be the ones who'd enforce it," said Justin Kahren, a truck driver from Emerald, Wis.
Some trucking and bus companies already have policies that prohibit drivers from texting or using their phones at all.
Truckers said there's "no excuse" for truckers to text because it's hard to maintain control of the rig and text.
At a Madison area truck stop, truckers said they are all for the ban -- even for truckers and the public alike who they say they constantly see texting.
Commercial drivers caught texting now face up to $2,750 in fines.
Copyright 2010 by Channel 3000. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.