Commercial drivers who text while operating are dangers to others

Texting and driving is a dangerous practice that has caused injuries and deaths to victims in Louisiana. When a driver takes their eyes away from the road in order to read or respond to a text message they are failing to use care in the execution of their driving responsibilities. A driver who is not looking at the road is a distracted driver and distracted drivers are threats to everyone else who must share streets and highways with them.

Because texting and driving is such a public safety issue several federal agencies have implemented regulations that ban the practice for commercial drivers. Both the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration have prohibited certain commercial drivers from engaging in text messaging while operating their rigs.

Bus and truck drivers who engage in interstate trips, as well as drivers who operate rigs that carry hazardous materials requiring placards, are not allowed to text and drive. Those who are found to be in violation of this important safety regulation may be punished with financial penalties and may disqualify drivers from engaging in their professional trade.

As previously discussed on this blog, trucks are big and they can move fast. When a driver takes their eyes off the road while barreling down the freeway, their rig could travel a significant distance before they raise their eyes back to the road. A lot of damage can be inflicted during those moments of inattention and it is for that reason that texting and driving is a prohibited act for many commercial vehicle drivers.