Distracted driving is the leading cause of traffic crashes, responsible for about 80 percent of all collisions, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Anything that takes your eyes or mind off the road, or your hands off the steering wheel is a distraction. But topping the list of distractions are cell phones. That’s why the Department of Transportation has banned interstate truck and bus drivers from using hand-held cell phones while operating vehicles.
49 CFR 392.82
Effective 1/3/2012, no driver shall use a hand-held mobile telephone while driving a commercial motor vehicle.
No motor carrier shall allow its drivers to use a hand-held mobile telephone while driving a commercial motor vehicle.
Cell Phone Do & Don’ts
CANNOT
- Cannot talk on hand-held cell phone while driving
- Cannot punch/dial numbers
- Cannot talk on hand-held while stopped in traffic or other delays
- Cannot hold cell phone while truck in operation
CAN
- Can talk on hands free phone
- Can push one button to dial with hands free
- Can only push one button to initiate call
- Can only push one button to terminate call
- Cannot reach for cell phone in a manner that requires movement from seated driving position
- Can talk on CB
- Can use a GPS or other navigation system
- Can use other systems such as music players/dispatching devices, etc.
- Can talk on hand held cell phone when safely parked off the road and not moving
- In an emergency, can use hand-held to contact emergency services only
Other Info
- Non-compliance will result in "serious" violation
- Two "serious" violations as defined in Table 2 of 49 FMCSR 383.51 will result in disqualification of CDL for 60 days /li>
- Violation will result in 30 CSA points (10 points x 3)
- Federal civil penalties up to $2,750 for operator violating rule
- Federal civil penalties up to $11,000 for carriers violating rule
For more information, please contact:
safety@landstar.com
or 800-872-9496.
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