Car Drivers “Kill People Too” say Truckers Groups
US – Trucking companies across the country have united in their
criticism of Tuesday’s ruling to ban texting whilst driving in trucks –
because it doesn’t go far enough. Overall support for the ruling was
overwhelming with many of the nation’s haulage and drayage groups
having already introduced a ban on their own staff using the technology
whilst in motion. But what of private motorists? It is exactly six months since Virginia Tech's Transportation Institute released their formal study
of light and heavy truck driver distraction and cell phone use under
real world driving conditions. The report clearly indicated that
texting into a device whilst driving was more likely to result in an
accident – more than 23 times as likely. Now it seems that it could be
a step too far to make the connection between driving a truck and
driving a car as yesterday saw the Transportation Secretary introduce a regulation which prevents truckers’ texting whilst behind the wheel.
Now,
in the home of the free, it remains to be seen if the US authorities
have the spine to go the whole way and sanction ordinary motorists who
communicate with the outside world whilst driving. The VTTI report,
conducted in a real driving environment, not a simulator, revealed some
uncomfortable, and some surprising, truths for drivers who believe
their reactions are not impaired whilst “multi tasking”.
Results
showed that any activity which draws the driver’s eyes from the road
will adversely affect their ability to control the vehicle. Headsets do
not measurably improve the safety factor whilst talking on a mobile
phone over hand held devices but even these present no extra risk
whilst simply listening. Cognitively intense tasks (e.g., emotional
conversations, “books‐on‐tape”, etc.) whilst having a dramatic effect
on driving whilst under simulated conditions, do not have any thing
like the risk in actual driving conditions.
One thing was made
clear however and that is that driving under the influence of drugs or
alcohol was vastly more dangerous than an otherwise alert driver using
any form of communication.
Reaction to the ban from the world
of road haulage and drayage was virtually unanimous. Most truck
companies have already taken steps to ensure their drivers never text
whilst in motion and adhere to standards such as the ATA’s safety policy, but, with the threat of a fine up to $2750, all truckers will now have to take notice.
A spokesman from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
said he did not think a reduction in accident levels was likely as the
ruling might prove unenforceable. UK readers will bear witness that in
the aftermath of a serious crash, text and cell phone records are a
damning indictment of wayward drivers and this has a measurable
deterrent effect on driving habits.
President Obama led the way
last year when he banned all communications using federal owned
equipment in all vehicles and a total ban whilst in control of any
federal vehicle. There will certainly be a strong lobby to support a
total ban within the next year backed by the aforementioned study and
the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administrations own figures which support the conclusions on distracted driving.
Source: Handy Shipping Guide
