Why is Distracted Driving so Dangerous to CMV Drivers?

Truck drivers spend many hours on the road and, as such, they become tired more easily. This means that they may find things that take their attention away from the road, even momentarily, without understanding that there are immense risks associated with this behavior. Some common distractions that truckers may find in their line of work include texting and emailing, talking on the phone, reading a nap, eating or drinking, and even adjusting the radio. You may think that these distractions sound harmless, but this is far from the truth – where drivers are way more likely to experience an accident if they are involved in this behavior.

What You Must Know 

Since 2014, there have been new texting restrictions for drivers of commercial motor vehicles such as trucks. Texting can really include many forms of using your phone in a handheld way, such as entering text info, reading text, and so much more. However, drivers can still use a phone without disobeying these restrictions. They could utilize an earpiece or speaker phone option as well as using voice-activated features to initiate or terminate a call.

Nowadays, if a CMV driver is caught texting and driving, they could receive civil penalties of over $2,000 and also be disqualified as a driver depending on the circumstances in their case. Texting will cause a driver’s eyes to be taken off the road for 4.6 seconds or more – which could be as much as traveling the length of a football field. Keep safety in mind and keep your eyes on the road.

If you have been injured in a trucking accident, give us a call today. At Maggiano, DiGirolamo & Lizzi, we can handle your case.