US DOT prohibits commercial drivers while text messaging

US Department of Transportation has announced that all commercial drivers are now prohibited from texting while driving.  Truck and bus drivers who text message while driving commercial vehicles may be subject to civil or criminal penalties of up to two thousand seven hundred and fifty dollars.

The latest ruling is just one in a series of actions taken to combat distracted driving.  Studies by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration show that drivers who text message while driving are at least 20 times more likely to get in an accident than non distracted drivers.  There are additional regulatory measures in the works concerning using electronic devices while driving.

The latest regulation applies to interstate commercial truck drivers and generally any bus driver who carries more than 8 passengers.

In addition to this latest ruling for commercial drivers, all federal employees are also restricted from texting while driving.