MY ETT News » texting

Delaware enacts tough texting, cell phone ban for drivers

Rhonda Flathman — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 20:15:51 +0000

Last week, Delaware joined 29 other states banning texting while driving, but the New England state took the restrictions a step further by banning handheld cell phone use while the vehicle is in motion. This includes reading or sending emails and browsing websites in addition to texting. Under the law, the first offense carries a penalty of $50, while a second offense carries a fine of $100 to $200. The law is primary, meaning police can stop drivers if they suspect a violation of this law alone. More than 200 distracted driving bills were introduced last year, and the pace is quickening this year.

Delaware became the 30th state to ban texting while driving when Gov. Jack Markell signing a tough new anti-distraction law that bans drivers in the state from using handheld cell phones while driving and sets strict penalties for texting behind the wheel.

The new law creates a comprehensive statewide restriction on handheld cell phone use. The measure also prohibits drivers from text messaging, sending or reading e-mails or browsing websites while a vehicle is in motion. Under the law, the first offense carries a penalty of $50, while a second offense carries a fine of $100 to $200. The law is primary, meaning police can stop drivers if they suspect a violation of this law alone.

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Massachusetts enacts tough no-texting law

Rhonda Flathman — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 19:00:51 +0000

Of the 29 states that have enacted texting bans, Massachusetts may just be the toughest. The New England state is the latest to ban the latest driving distraction wrought of technology. According to the bill, adults will be fined $100 for the first offense, $250 for the second and $500 for the third. Teen-aged drivers are subject to the same fines, but will also face license suspensions of as little as 60 days up to one year.

Massachusetts Text Ban Toughest on Teens
Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick last week signed a tough new anti-distraction law that bans texting while driving and sets strict penalties for the practice. Massachusetts is the 29th state to ban texting behind the wheel.

The new Massachusetts bill will fine adults $100 for texting as a first offense, $250 for a second offense and $500 for a third. Drivers younger than 18, if caught texting or using a cell phone while driving, will receive a $100 fine in addition to a 60-day license suspension. In addition, they will be required to take an “attitude” course before getting their license back. A second offense for young drivers would carry a 180-day suspension and a $250 fine. A third offense would generate a one-year suspension and a $500 fine.

Click here to visit CCJ and read the complete story.

Louisiana toughens texting ban

Rhonda Flathman — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 19:47:30 +0000

A stronger anti-texting law in Louisiana is garnering praise from the U.S. Department of Transportation. Beginning Aug. 15, drivers caught texting while driving can be pulled over, rather than being merely ticketed for it if pulled over for another offense. Unchanged from the state’s original 2008 ban, drivers face fines of $175 and up to $500 for any following offenses.

Louisiana Ups the Ante on Fines for Texting While Driving
Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal has signed a new law that makes texting while driving in the state a primary offense beginning Aug. 15. The law strengthens Louisiana’s 2008 texting ban that allowed law enforcement officials to ticket drivers caught using their phones only if they were pulled over for another offense. Drivers caught texting behind the wheel will continue to face a fine of $175 for the first offense and up to $500 for any that follow.

Click here to visit CCJ and read the complete story.

Focus on driver distraction may be misplaced

Rhonda Flathman — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 20:35:08 +0000

A global driver risk-management firm contends that safety groups and government agencies may have dropped the signal on truly addressing driver distraction and correcting dangerous behavior. DriveCam Inc.’s analysis of in-cab video and other data streams from over 2 billion miles of vehicle operation indicate that handheld cell phones are the most common distraction. But the company doesn’t want fleets to overlook the basics like not looking far ahead or following too close. Real improvement, it contends, will come from showing drivers their potentially dangerous behaviors, then training them to correct them, rather than simply banning a number of distracting devices.

While distracted driving among motorists and truck drivers is getting a lot of attention from safety groups and government agencies alike, such efforts are not addressing the major driver behaviors that cause crashes – especially among truckers—contends a global driver risk-management firm.

That’s the view expressed by DriveCam Inc., after it analyzed its database of over 17-million “driving events” recorded via in-cab video and other data streams collected from over two billion miles of vehicle operation.

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FMCSA bans texting by commercial drivers

Rhonda Flathman — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 16:38:00 +0000

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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Fed anti-distracted driver order in effect

Rhonda Flathman — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 19:35:49 +0000

An executive order prohibiting federal employees from texting while driving on the clock or using wireless devices in government vehicles officially took effect the beginning of the year. This law affects all federal employees during work hours while operating their private vehicles, or at all times if using a government vehicle. The order also encourages federal contractors and those with whom they do business to adopt or enforce their own policies while working.

An executive order issued by the White House in October to prohibit more than four million federal employees from texting behind the wheel while working or using government vehicles and communications devices is now officially in effect.

Executive Order 13513 – titled “Federal Leadership on Reducing Text Messaging While Driving” and signed by President Obama October 1, 2009 – went into effect January 1. It directs federal employees: not to engage in text messaging while driving government-owned vehicles; when using electronic equipment supplied by the government while driving; or while driving privately owned vehicles when they’re on official government business.

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iTECH: Another Kind of Cell Block

Rhonda Flathman — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 19:35:26 +0000

Technology may have stopped distracted driving in its tracks. As concerns have grown over the use of cell phones or diversion from the road caused by texting, many states have called for bans on the use of cell phones and other wireless communication devices. However, a number of motion-tracking technologies are available, which effectively shut down texting capabilities or restrict the use of answering calls or listening to voice mails while in motion. Others automatically switch the devices to a hands-free setting to help eliminate as much of the distraction of using the device while still remaining in contact.

A person trying to chat or read and send text messages while driving could find his cell phone disabled, thanks to technology coming into the market.

Applications for commercial drivers are part of the mix of new products that address what many are saying is a rising safety issue: distracted driving. If people won’t voluntarily avoid using handsets while operating a motor vehicle, there are ways to render cellular connections inoperable, or at least report the driver’s activities to management.

Click here to visit Transport Topics and read the complete story.