Trucker Texting Ban Could Lower the Amount of Florida Truck Accidents

Up to this point, commercial truckers and bus drivers have been allowed to text and drive in Florida.  However, things have changed.

The federal government has recently banned bus drivers and truckers from texting while driving.  These new restrictions apply to interstate truckers and operators of vehicles carrying at least eight passengers.  Truckers and bus drivers who violate this ban could be fined up to $2,750.  It will be interesting to see the impact this ban will have on the amount of Florida truck accidents.

"This helps to establish a uniform safe application of texting bans around the country.  This is a high-risk behavior. Drivers who text take their eyes off the road for (an average of) 4.6 seconds. In this congested environment, we cannot allow these conditions to continue," said Anne Ferro, head of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.

There have been numerous studies into the dangers of cell phones and other driver distractions.  One study, found that taking your eyes of the road for a mere three seconds significantly impacts your probability of being involved in a collision.  According to Ferro, texting takes even longer.  For truck drivers, they have to be alert to dangers at all times, as it takes quite a bit longer to stop these massive vehicles.

If you have been hurt in a truck accident in Palm Beach County, St. Lucie County or Martin County, contact a Palm Beach truck accident attorney at our office at 1-800-LAW IN FL (529-4635).