Texting Ban Weighs Heavily For Truck Drivers Causing Catastrophic Accidents

When the Department of Transportation issued new regulations this January banning commercial truck and bus drivers from texting while driving, it also imposed fines of up to $2,750 on drivers violating the new federal regulations.

However, Massachusetts, which became the 29th state to ban texting while driving, only mandated fines of up to $500 for a third offense for drivers who violate that
state’s new law.

Why the extreme difference in penalties?

Accidents involving commercial trucks and buses often result in deaths and catastrophic injuries due to such vehicles’ immense size. For example, a fully loaded 18-wheeler can weigh over 80,000 pounds compared with 3,000 pounds for the average passenger vehicle.

The result is more deaths and fatalities in accidents involving commercial trucks. Recently, two people were killed and 50 injured in a wreck involving two school buses, a semi and an SUV about 40 miles outside of St. Louis, MO. And this month, two people died in a small town in New York state when a tractor trailer ran over a stopped car.

In promoting the new regulations, Anne Ferro, administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, and Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood made it clear they were not singling out commercial truck drivers or bus drivers, but simply sending a safety message. As Ferro said, “This policy has serious implications for interstate drivers who carry cargo or passengers for a living, but we're not trying to deny anyone the opportunity to earn a living at the wheel of a truck or bus.

“We’re simply sending a message: When we advise drivers to share the road responsibly, we mean it. Look, we know that a commercial truck or bus driven by someone texting is a lethal weapon.”

Just how lethal a weapon is texting while driving a large truck? A Virginia Tech Transportation Institute study found that commercial drivers who text while driving are 23 times more likely to be involved in an accident.

There's no doubt that an accident involving a bus or commercial vehicle can be catastrophic for you or your loved ones. Consult an experienced truck accident attorney immediately to safeguard your rights to financial compensation.

By: texlaw

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Founder of longtime Texas personal injury law firm Jim S. Adler & Associates, Adler is a Houston car accident attorney who supports Safe Kids, Mothers Against Drunk Driving and other safe driving campaigns. “Anyone harmed in a car or truck accident can obtain a free case review form on the Adler Web site to take the first step toward financial recovery,” Adler says.