As was expected, the Department of Transportation and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) made it official. Effective Jan. 26, the organizations will enforce a ban on texting or the use of other “handheld” wireless electronic devices brought into a commercial vehicle. Violators are subject to fines of up to $2,750 per occurrence. The ban doesn’t apply to all in-cab technologies, however, provided that they do not impede safety of the operation of the vehicle. The FMCSA cited research that showed while texting, a driver takes his eyes off the road for an average of 4.6 seconds out of 6 seconds, or travels the length of a football field without looking at the road.

New Texting Ban Doesn't Affect All In-Cab Technologies

The Department of Transportation announced today, Jan. 26, that it has decided to use its existing regulatory authority to prohibit texting by drivers of commercial motor vehicles (CMVs). The ban, adopted as regulatory guidance by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, was effective immediately and applies to texting on “handheld or other wireless electronic devices that are brought into a CMV.” Drivers who violate the ban are subject to civil or criminal penalties of up to $2,750 per occurrence.

FMCSA is relying on its authority under Part 390.17, which allows additional equipment and accessories on commercial vehicles “provided such equipment and accessories do not decrease the safety of operation of the commercial motor vehicles on which they are used.” The agency cited research concluding that drivers who send and receive text messages take their eyes off the road for an average of 4.6 seconds out of every 6 seconds while texting. “At 55 miles per hour, this means that the driver is traveling the length of a football field, including the end zones, without looking at the road.”

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