Hands Off

Could it be time during this Christmas shopping season to invest in hands-free cell phone technology? If you haven’t done so already, it might be worth considering. U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood earlier this week issued a ruling banning interstate truck and bus drivers from using handheld cellular phones while driving their vehicles.

The rule, authored by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, is the latest move in an ongoing effort to curb distracted driving. Last year, federal authorities prohibited truck and bus drivers from texting while on the road.

“When drivers of large trucks, buses and hazardous materials take their eyes off the road for even a few seconds, the outcome can be deadly,” LaHood said in the Nov. 23 announcement. “I hope that this rule will save lives by helping commercial drivers stay laser-focused on safety at all times while behind the wheel.”

The American Trucking Associations applaud the measure, although the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association in the past has questioned data that proponents of the ban have used to justify the action.

Violations are punishable by fines of up to $2,750 for each offense. Multiple violations could result in the disqualification of the driver’s CDL.

Might be time to ask Santa for a Bluetooth.