Shapiro, Cooper, Lewis, & Appleton

The American Truckers Association (ATA) has been waffling on their support for an anti-texting bill crafted by Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY), but recently decided to endorse the legislative initiative.

This isn’t very surprising since the bill hasn’t reached the Senate floor for a vote, so there’s plenty of time to implement exemptions the trucking industry has been angling for since the bill – officially known as the Avoiding Life-Endangering and Reckless Texting by Drivers Act – was introduced by Sen. Schumer.

What exemptions? The trucking industry relies heavily on electronic communication devices in their trucks to relay directions and commands to the drivers. They’re probably looking for ways to ensure those devices stay in the trucks without much alteration. It’s unclear how far the proposed legislation will go in terms of restricting these devices for interstate trucking work, if at all. There is already an exemption in the bill for texting “in case of an emergency.”

I hope the trucking industry focuses their efforts on moving towards voice-activated communication devices as opposed to lobbying Congress for special exemptions to devices which produce basically the same level of distracted driving as texting. The truck drivers still have to look down to type in directions and implement commands from headquarters. That takes their eyes off the road and puts them, along with all of us on the road, in danger.

I appreciate the ATA’s endorsement of the anti-texting bill, but let’s hope they are truly committed to truck safety and not merely trying to look good in front of the general public and trying to work their way around the restrictions in the back rooms of Congress.

About the Editors: Shapiro, Cooper Lewis & Appleton is a law firm which focuses on injury and accident law and our attorneys have experience handling truck accident cases. Check out our case results to see for yourself. Our primary office in based in Virginia Beach, Virginia (VA) although our lawyers hold licenses in NC, SC, WV, KY and DC. We are ready to talk to you by phone right now—we provide free initial confidential injury case consultations, so call us toll free at 1-800-752-0042. Our injury attorneys also host an extensive injury law video library on Youtube . Furthermore, our lawyers proudly edit the Virginia Beach Injuryboard and Norfolk Injuryboard as a pro bono public information service.

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Our firm has written a special FREE report on distracted driving, which includes extensive information on texting while driving. Be sure to take a look.

Even with states taking action, a federal ban has been bandied about on Capitol Hill. Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) has legislation which would deny states a percentage of federal highway funds if they don’t implement a texting while driving ban.

Most people concede texting while driving is something that needs to be restricted. Nevertheless, there is one group of drivers who don’t support such major action – truckers. Many truck companies have computers and handle-held devices in their vehicles in order to communicate with drivers and provide directions. They contend this type of technology should be exempt from any federal legislation.

However, the evidence is not in favor of the trucking industry. The Virginia Tech Transportation Institute videotaped drivers who use the computer technology in the cab of their trucks and found they’re at 10 times greater risk of crashing, nearly crashing or wandering from their lane than truckers who did not use those devices, according to the New York Times.

In Virginia (VA), Old Dominion Freight Line is in the midst of a legal battle stemming from a major accident where their truck driver was using a hand-held device and smashed into a motorcyclist. If stories like this continue to emerge, truck companies may not be able to escape federal texting regulation and could be forced to remove, or dramatically alter, their on-board computer devices.

As an injury lawyer who regularly represents people seriously hurt in car/truck accidents, I’m for whatever helps decrease the incidences of these types of accidents. The damage trucks can inflict on people is disturbing and drivers needs to remain alert at all times when they’re behind the wheel.

About the Editors: Shapiro, Cooper Lewis & Appleton is a law firm which focuses on injury and accident law and our attorneys have experience handling truck accident cases. Check out our case results to see for yourself. Our primary office in based in Virginia Beach, Virginia (VA) although our lawyers hold licenses in NC, SC, WV, KY and DC. We are ready to talk to you by phone right now—we provide free initial confidential injury case consultations, so call us toll free at 1-800-752-0042. Our injury attorneys also host an extensive injury law video library on Youtube . Furthermore, our lawyers proudly edit the Virginia Beach Injuryboard and Norfolk Injuryboard as a pro bono public information service.

PA

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