As of January 3, 2012, commercial truck or bus drivers will face civil penalties of up to $2,750, per violation, for using handheld cell phones while operating a vehicle. The new rule, announced in November by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, will include a maximum penalty of $11,000 for companies that permit this behavior.
The real danger of using cell phones is not the risk of being caught. The accident risk is equal to driving while legally intoxicated, according to a study in the New England Journal of Medicine.
To help mitigate this risk, fleets can use applications that automatically lock down mobile devices when they detect motion. The real challenge, however, may be restricting drivers from using personal phones while operating company vehicles.
The transportation industry has a precedence of taking controversial measures to mitigate risk. In most cases, measures that seem controversial at first soon become standard practice. Technology that makes it possible to enforce restrictions on drivers’ personal cell phones, for instance, may at first seem to drivers to be an intrusive measure.
Consider the history of electronic onboard recorders (EOBRs). For years many fleets resisted using EOBRs fearing they would cause a mass exodus of drivers. Today electronic logs are used by the majority of fleets and widely accepted by drivers.
Technology that monitors driver behavior is also widespread. Many fleets use management systems that report risky behaviors such as speeding, sudden lane changes and panic braking, and other events the moment they occur.
Since fleets already use technology to enforce safety and compliance, is using technology to restrict employees’ use of cell phones while driving any different?
“Just telling (drivers) the rule doesn’t equal compliance and enforcement,” says Matt Howard, founder of ZoomSafer, a company that develops software that ensures the safe and legal use of mobile phones while driving.
ZoomSafer has developed active and passive management systems for cell phones. Both systems can be used to enforce compliance for personal and company-owned devices.
ZoomSafer’s active risk management product, Fleetsafer Mobile, uses a client software application for Blackberry or Android phones. When the app detects that a device is in motion it automatically limits the use of the device according to customer settings. The app can permit drivers to make and receive calls in hands free manner.
The passive product, FleetSafer Vision, works by downloading SMS detail records from cell phone billing statements every 30 days. SMS records from the billing statements are compared to vehicle location and other driving data extracted from wireless fleet management systems to identify unauthorized use of cell phones. FleetSafer Vision identifies drivers with the highest risk profile.
Also of Interest »
Why just truckers and not "John Q Public" as we all see every day majority of cell phone use is in cars as they race to pass and cut off large trucks and in turn cause the accidents that we are often charged with the blame? We should all be under the same penalties.
Once again I will state my feelings on this subject.
We have drivers with hearing problems and use hearing aids. Some are in ear type and some are built into the glasses. As long as they wear them when required and have spare batteries they are legal. Now they can no longer hold the phone to the GOOD ear what are they going to do? If you know someone that uses hearing aids you know what the squeal is when something gets too close to the aid. Are they going to be forced into buying a GPS with blue tooth technology and hope they can hear the calling party through the truck noise?
Is there going to be an exception for these drivers?
We have handicapped drivers with the handicap placards so parking close to building is allowing them easier access to services.
Will these hearing aid wearing drivers be able to carry some sort of ID for the Exception of Hearing loss so no tickets are issued for not using hands free.?
Have our Lawyer legislators even thought of this? Or is it just going to be "sorry you will have to find other employment" Here is your ticket.
There needs to be a ban on EVERYONE to ensure fair and equal treatment and application of the law. Come on law suits.
The most sure way to stop this type of BS is to VOTE and vote out these incompetent Legislators that do nothing but protect their huge contributors and big business at our expense and livleyhood.
Boy is this getting to be monotonous. Again , 85% to 88 % of car truck% accident ( govt studies) are caused by the car driver and this is going to change that? HOW???? You can not prevent all accidents no matter what kind of safe guards you think your installing. Remember the Challenger space shuttle?
Lets face it. When you cannot educate our legislators how do we expect them to try to institute an education program for the motoring public?. It is too simple and they can't understand simple. They are 99% lawyers that's why.
Way to go DC. Ignore the facts. Ignore the people with solutions.
Punish the ones that you think don't vote.
You do realize that this is the stuff shutdowns are made of don't you?
Continued HOS changes, Cell phone bans, unsafe split speed limits. unscrupulous leo's like your fair haired boys in Minnesota. Double taxation by way of allowing unfair pricing "tolls" on interstates we have already paid to build and use.It is an interstate, not a Penn state interstate highway or a NY interstate state highway or even a CA interstate state highway it is an interstate highway and it is paid for by every one that uses it or plans on using it and by those that never use it . TAXES and road tax, and any other tax legislators can come up with. And of course our jobs going south, literally. Toll is another way to spell TAX.
It is this kind of stuff that is killing the industry by people that have no idea what trucking is. NO idea what truck drivers do. No idea how the food gets to the store, but we are to blame every time for their lack of driving skills and ability.
Now this is a gem. "Legally intoxicated"
The real danger of using cell phones is not the risk of being caught. The accident risk is equal to driving while legally intoxicated, according to a study in the New England Journal of Medicine.
How do you drive while legally intoxicated ?. Inquiring drunks want to know.
Hi again Gordon and Bob,
We seem to agree that politics aren't always fair. Especially when driven by people who probably have not ever walked up close to a truck, let alone sit in one.
Fallen responsibilities lie further that the driver. Lets look at who some companies have hired, how their training stacks up, how much production is demanded, and so on.
Next, lets look at how willing we (as drivers) are to step up and be among a huge group that works every day at being better than average by striving for excellence, getting the bigger picture, passing on our experiences to others, and in general...wanting to make a difference.
Then we must look at how many times you and I see J Q public driving 20-30mph above the speed limit and as close as 6ft behind the car in front of them. Many times able to go around rather than follow too close. This is a serious mindset failure (with respect to safety). As is erratic lane changes and using ones vehicle as a weapon. We see it all.
When one has been behind the wheel of a 60ft large car for 51 years, they see many failures (even by some law enforcement personal failing to lead by example). Too much to address in one sitting.
Each of us can sit down and list our worst pet peeves of the road but, they will change depending on the severity of the peeve at any given moment. I had mentioned in a previous post that until Legislature and Law Enforcement work together to make present laws more readily enforceable WITHOUT RAISING FINES TO THE ROOF, then we are paddling but getting no where.
As I look back, I realize my part 'in the bigger picture of truck transportation' may be small but without Bob and Gordon and myself...goods go no where.
I will say it once more...Legislators: Law Enforcement: Corporate America....are you driving or perhaps being driven and doing so with your mouth shut the entire trip. I think NOT!! As a matter of fact, lets ask J Q public that same question.
Keep the radio off...it's distracting (that is where we are headed).
I thought communism was gone, but evidently it just moved to the USA
They can't create jobs or balance a budget, but they have time for this nonsense. This is truly a great nation. Leave the working man alone already.
[...] Commercial Carriers Journal – December 29, 2011 [...]