Truck drivers are not immune to distracted driving. In fact, no driver is immune to distracted driving. It’s a problem that continues to worsen throughout Texas even as law enforcement officials do their best to curb the situation and educate motorists. Here is some information on distracted driving and truck drivers.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) bans texting while driving for truck drivers. Aside from texting, the FMCSA bans all hand-held mobile phone use while operating a commercial vehicle for interstate commerce. Devices used for dispatching are not banned by the FMCSA so long as they are used within parameters outlined by the company and not for texting.
State rules regarding texting and driving apply first to cases, but since most states have yet to address this issue, the FMCSA rules apply to all commercial drivers no matter which state they are driving in across the country.
Distracted driving is defined by the FMCSA as no reaching, no holding, no texting, no dialing and no reading.
Truck drivers caught doing any of this while driving can face the following fines and penalties:
- Fines of up to $2,750
- Employer of the driver can be fined up to $11,000 if they knowingly allow distracted driving
- Repeat offenders can be pulled from service, which means removed from the road, for 120 days
- Violations negatively impact the employer’s Safety Measurement System ratings
Distracted driving will always be an issue so long as people continue to make bad decisions. can cause some of the most tragic accidents in Waco. An experienced personal injury attorney can explain your rights and help you recover compensation for injuries suffered.
Source: Trucking Truth, “Distracted Driving For Truck Drivers: The Penalties And Risks,” accessed July 14, 2017
Michael Zimmerman
Michael nació en Houston, Texas. Estudió en las universidades de Baylor y Texas State, donde se licenció en Ciencias en 1987. Se especializó en Biología y en Química. Terminó su educación legal en Texas Southern University en 1990, obteniendo un Doctorado en Derecho de la Escuela de Derecho Thurgood Marshall. Fue admitido en el Colegio de Abogados del Estado de Texas en 1990.
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