In January we announced that the DOT finally called for an all-out ban of texting by drivers of commercial vehicles including tractor trailers, motor coaches and buses. Any driver found guilty of this act may be fined nearly $3,000. Text messaging was banned by drivers in 19 states, up to 30 in August.
Study after study clearly reveals the inherent risks of texting while driving. One study shows it raises the probability of a crash eightfold, while another reports it increases a truck driver's chance of being in a crash by a factor of 24. It’s been called the "perfect storm" by researchers because drivers let go of the steering wheel simultaneously taking both their eyes and minds off the road.
Recently, it was revealed by his girlfriend that the death of celebrity plastic surgeon Dr. Frank Ryan was due to tweeting – he was posting an image of his dog on the top of a sand dune. Other studies have found adults get just as distracted as teens. So the message spans same all ages: Wait until you’re safely off the road.
Distracted driving is as lethal as drunk driving, and research shows the quality of your conversation also decreases while you drive – so do yourself a favor - wait until later.
Here’s a look at January to August changes:
Handheld Cell Phone Bans for All Drivers:
January 2010 - 6 states - California, Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, Oregon and Washington, (the District of Columbia and the Virgin Islands prohibit all drivers from talking on handheld cell phones while driving.)
August 2010 – add 2 states – add Delaware and Maryland
TOTAL – 8 states
All Cell Phone Bans:
January 2010 - No state completely bans all types of cell phone use (handheld and hands-free) for all drivers, but many prohibit cell phone use by certain segments of the population.
August 2010 - No state completely bans all types of cell phone use
TOTAL – NONE
Novice Drivers:
January 2010 - 21 states and the District of Columbia ban all cell use by novice drivers.
August 2010 – add 7 states
TOTAL – 28 states
School Bus Drivers:
January 2010 - 17 states and the District of Columbia, school bus drivers are prohibited from all cell phone use when passengers are present.
August 2010 – add 1 state
TOTAL – 18 states
Text Messaging:
January 2010 - 19 states, the District of Columbia and Guam now ban text messaging for all drivers. Fifteen states, D.C., and Guam have primary enforcement. In the other four states, all driver texting bans are secondarily enforced. Some states have limited texting bans.
August 2010 – add 11 states, D.C. and Guam ban text messaging for all drivers. 11 of these laws were enacted in 2010. 26 states, D.C., and Guam have primary enforcement. In the other four, texting bans are secondary.
TOTAL – 30 states
For more information, please visit:
National Safety Council March 2010 white paper, “Understanding the Distracted Brain: Why Driving While Using Hands-Free Cell Phones is Risky Behavior.”
Distraction.gov
Governors Higway Safety Association






