April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month! Did you know your brain can miss seeing up to 50% of your driving environment when you talk on a cell phone? And, that according to research, drivers talking on cell phones had slower reaction times than drivers with a .08 blood alcohol content. April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month and is the perfect time for motor carriers to reinforce to their drivers the dangers of distracted driving and the rules and regulations being enforced by the FMCSA.

According to these regulations, Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV) drivers are prohibited from texting or using hand-held mobile phones while operating their vehicles. Violations can result in fines and/or disqualifications and will impact a motor carrier’s and/or driver’s Safety Management System (SMS) results. Texting means manually entering alphanumeric text into, or reading text from, an electronic device. The rules also restrict a CMV driver from reaching for or holding a mobile phone to conduct a voice communication, as well as dialing by pressing more than a single button. CMV drivers who use a mobile phone while driving can only operate a hands-free phone located in close proximity. In short, the rule prohibits unsafely reaching for a device, holding a mobile phone, or pressing multiple buttons.

The rules impose sanctions for driver offenses, including civil penalties up to $2,750 and disqualification for multiple offenses. Motor carriers are also prohibited from requiring or allowing their drivers to text or use a hand-held mobile phone while driving and may be subject to civil penalties up to $11,000. Violations will impact SMS results.

This month reinforce to CMV drivers the dangers of distracted driving. The National Safety Council offers tips for all drivers on staying safe all month. http://ow.ly/hOYCS

When drivers are not paying attention they don’t have a chance to react and suddenly they are in an oncoming lane of traffic or they have hit a tree—these crashes are usually very severe. There are even distracted driving statistics about commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) reports that the odds of being involved in a safety-critical event (e.g., crash, near-crash, unintentional lane deviation) are 23.2 times greater for CMV drivers who text while driving than for those who do not. Texting drivers take their eyes off the road for an average of 4.6 seconds. At 55 mph, this equates to a driver traveling the approximate length of a football field — without looking at the roadway! For CMV drivers who dial a mobile phone while driving, the odds of being involved in a safety-critical event are six times greater than for those who do not.

Besides CMV drivers can face penalties and possible disqualification if they are found texting or using a hand-held mobile phone while driving. The FMCSA rules impose sanctions for driver offenses, including civil penalties up to $2,750 and disqualification for multiple offenses. Motor carriers are also prohibited from requiring or allowing their drivers to text or use a hand-held mobile phone while driving and may be subject to civil penalties up to $11,000. Violations will impact Safety Measurement System (SMS) results. For more information about texting and mobile phone restrictions for CMV drivers, visit FMCSA Rules & Regulations – Distracted Driving.

This month alerts CMV drivers to the dangers of distracted driving. The National Safety Council offers tips for all drivers on staying safe all month. http://ow.ly/hOYCS