Ban on Texting While Driving

From an email I received from the League of American Bicyclists:

The Department of Transportation Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is proposing a ban on texting while driving by commercial drivers: any type of truck or bus used for interstate commerce including school bus drivers. This unfortunately does not apply to all vehicles. From the DOT:

SUMMARY: The Federal Motor Carrier
Safety Administration (FMCSA)
proposes to prohibit texting by
commercial motor vehicle (CMV)
drivers while operating in interstate
commerce and to impose sanctions,
including civil penalties and
disqualification from operating CMVs in
interstate commerce, for drivers who fail
to comply with this rule. Additionally,
motor carriers would be prohibited from
requiring or allowing their drivers to
engage in texting while driving. FMCSA
also proposes amendments to its
commercial driver’s license (CDL)
regulations to add to the list of
disqualifying offenses a conviction
under State or local laws, regulations, or
ordinances that prohibit texting by CDL
drivers while operating a CMV,
including school bus drivers. Recent
research commissioned by FMCSA
shows that the odds ratio of being
involved in a safety-critical event (e.g.,
crash, near-crash, lane departure) is 23.2
times greater for drivers who engage in
texting while driving than for those who
do not. This rulemaking would increase
safety on the Nation’s highways by
reducing the prevalence of or preventing
certain truck- and bus-related crashes,
fatalities, and injuries associated with
distracted driving.

Comments on this proposed ban are being taken until May 3rd. The LAB has drafted a comment here which you can copy and paste to the comments form.