Is Ban On Texting For Commercial Motor Vehicle Drivers Enough?
Over the past few agedness, several states have enacted laws prohibiting drivers from using handheld electronic devices to words or natter while operating a motor vehicle. However, the limitations set on the use of near devices vary throughout the country, and some states, double as Florida, Montana, and South Dakota, have no laws banning the deadly hustle, explains a lawyer. While the state domination has acted to apparatus a ban on texting for the drivers of commercial motor vehicles, it should compose a uniform ban on all cell phone use. As long as laws permit some use, the incidence of fatal and injury crashes like those that recently occurred in Orange County, California and Billings, Montana may stay on high.
Despite the reality that more than 3, 000 people were killed in traffic accidents in which distraction was a factor in 2010, the civic authority has not enacted a nationwide ban on the use of all portable electronic devices while driving. As of February 2012, using a hand - executive cell phone while driving was against the law in 10 states, and sending matter messages was prohibited in 35 states. In addition, the use of a cell phone by learner drivers was exceptional in 20 states and the District of Columbia.
Even in states where the use of a hand - hampered cell phone is prohibited, having the device in the vehicle has proven too beguiling for drivers. Currently, a case is underway in Orange County, California in which a woman was distracted while sending issue messages and failed to decelerate for stopped freeway traffic, rear - ending a vehicle at 80 miles per hour, explains a lawyer. The renter of that vehicle suffered fatal injuries. Although the woman contends that her cell phone was in her cup holder at the second of the crash, authorities conclude deb was distracted and are charging her with vehicular manslaughter with uncut negligence, reported KABC - TV Los Angeles.
Although polished are no statewide laws prohibiting cell phone use or texting while driving in Montana, intended municipalities have enacted their concede bans, including Billings, the location of a fatal crash last Eminent. While circuit on Highway 87, a semi - truck driver veered interest the oncoming traffic of the opposing lanes and enthusiasm a jeep and a snowy car, funny the two occupants of the jeep and the driver of the car and critically injuring a mother and child. Authorities claimed that the truck driver was distracted at the generation of the accident, reported KTVQ. com.
Recognizing the risk truck and bus drivers pose to others on the rode when they operate these bulky vehicles while distracted, the Governmental Motor Carrier Safety Administration recently prohibited the use of hand - authoritative and push - to - chat cell phones by all commercial drivers.
While the municipal, state, and national laws against distracted driving currently in place may prevent some accidents, a greater impact on the incidence of injuries and deaths caused by the dangerous life could, arguably, be made by enacting a state ban on the use of all portable electronic devices while operating a motor vehicle, as was recently recommended by the Federal Transportation Safety Board.
