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NTSB Recommends Total Ban On Cell-Phone Use by Truckers [Transport Topics](Transport Topics Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Truck drivers should be prohibited from using cell phones while driving, even if the devices are handsfree, the National Transportation Safety Board said last week. The recommendation marks NTSB's strongest criticism of cell phone use among commercial drivers, and follows earlier advice the board gave to ban phone use by bus drivers. "Unfortunately, we see distractions being more prevalent on our roadways," NTSB Chairwoman Deborah Hersman told Teanspoht Topics after the board's Sept. 13 vote to adopt die recommendations and send them to die agencies that could order such changes. NTSB is recommending the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration ban all phone use by commercial driver-license holders while they are engaged in commercial operations, except in emergencies. It will send die same suggestion to all state transportation departments and die District of Columbia. NTSB cannot regulate or legislate; it can only make recommendations. FMCSA spokeswoman Candice Tolliver declined comment on whether the agency plans to act on the NTSB report. "Enacting bans on diese behaviors will go a long way toward reducing crash risk for all of us," Bill Graves, president of American Trucking Associations, said in a statement. He said ATA has sought a prohibition on the use of handheld cell phones to talk or text by all motorists, not just commercial drivers. However, Graves said ATA has not called for a prohibition on hands-free cell phone use. "The research really kind of goes both ways," explained said Boyd Stephenson, ATA's manager of safety and security operations. He cited a study by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute that found diat hands-free cell phone use while driving did not increase crash risk. "There's just not really anydiing conclusive there," he said. "We think it's a great place for further research." NTSB said die advice came after an investigation of a March 2010 crash in Kentucky in which a truck driver lost control of his vehicle and crossed into the opposing lanes. A passenger van smashed into the truck, killing the truck driver and 10 of die van's passengers. 'We know that this driver was on his cell phone," Hersman said. The investigation by NTSB staff found that the driver had placed a call just before losing control of the truck on Interstate 65 near Munfordville, Ky. "This is die clearest evidence we have that this driver was distracted at the time of the accident," Hersman said. Distraction was ruled the primary cause of the crash, NTSB said. The agency said the driver had made four cell-phorte calls in the minutes before the 5 a.m. crash, and 69 calls while he was driving during the 24 hours preceding the accident. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has fought for distracteddriving bans for much of his time in office. "Texting or talking on the phone while driving can turn deadly in a matter of seconds, particularly when a big rig or a bus is involved," LaHood said in a statement responding to NTSB's report. FMCSA banned texting while driving by truckers and bus operators in September 2010 (9-27, p. 3). Drivers caught texting can be fined up to $2,750. Three months later, FMCSA proposed a ban on all handheld cell-phone use by truck and bus drivers. The White House Office of Management and budget started to review the rule Sept. 13, according to its regulatory agenda. DOT expects to issue the Oct. 12. The Commercial Vehicle Safety agrees with NTSB's recabout distracted said Executive Director Keppler. "Any technology devices in the need to have an in-motion that basically does not allow to function while the vehicle in motion," he said. But tackling distracted driving go further, Keppler said. "There's a whole host of other disthat need to be minihe said. "There's a lot more need to do, and DOT is cerspending a lot of energy on and it needs to continue." Hersman recognized that other forms of distraction are dangerbut the recommendations focus only on specific crashes NTSB investigated. "We are in an environment that is really becoming inundated with a lot of electronic devices, both incab and handheld that are brought into the cab," she said. NTSB also faulted median barriers in its investigation, recommending that the Federal Highway Administration look at the issue and consider upgrading barrier standards. By Timothy Cama Staff Reporter (c) 2011 Transport Topics Publishing Group (TTPG) |