The federal government issued tough new federal guidelines this week, making texting illegal for all commercial truck and bus drivers.
As the Chicago bus accident lawyers and the Illinois trucking accident attorneys at Abels & Annes reported last fall, the new ban is the outcome of a federal distracted driving summit.
The prohibition is effective immediately, according to CNN. While new Illinois state law already prohibits texting for all drivers, the federal ban targeting commercial truck and bus drivers in important because of the large numbers of out-of-state commercial drivers on Illinois roads.
In 2008, fatal Illinois trucking accidents claimed 136 lives, making Illinois one of the deadliest states in the nation for semi accidents, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
“We want the drivers of big rigs and buses and those who share the roads with them to be safe,” said U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “This is an important safety step, and we will be taking more to eliminate the threat of distracted driving.”
Truck and bus drivers who text while driving commercial vehicles face fines of up to $2,750.
According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, a driver’s eyes are off the road for 4.6 seconds out of every six seconds while texting and texting drivers are 20 times more likely to get into an accident.
If you or a loved one has been seriously injured or killed in an accident with a commercial driver, the Illinois trucking accident lawyers and the Chicago bus accident attorneys at Abels & Annes offer free and confidential appointments to discuss your rights. Call (866) 99-ABELS. There is no fee unless you win.