According to recent news reports, the National Transportation Safety Board has recommended that commercial truck drivers be banned from using cell phones while driving, including hands-free devices.
The recommendation comes after news that a Kentucky driver whose fatal crash killed ten other people was making calls on his cell phone during the accident. Reports indicate that the trucker used his phone 69 times in the 24 hours leading up to the crash. Investigators have concluded his phone was in use at the time he left the highway, crossing the median and into oncoming traffic.
The Safety Board does not control the law on this topic, but often their recommendations are carried over into federal legislation.
Truckers are currently banned from texting while driving, and violators face a fine of up to $2,750.
As a Los Angeles truck accident lawyer, I hope that potential new regulations will decrease crash numbers, leading to safer highways for commercial drivers and others on the road. As a personal injury lawyer, I’ve seen the devastation cell phone use and distracted driving can cause. If you or someone you care about was injured by another driver who was using a cell phone, I recommend you speak with a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible.