FMCSA rule on cell phone ban makes National Register

It's called the FMSCA. They are a seperate gov't group that focuses on trucks only. They make new rules everyday and there is no coordination with the DOT to enforce the same rules on 4 wheelers.

I feel it discriminates also and only solves a very small fraction of the problems. But the gov't thinks they need a dept that focuses on just trucks. Let the 4 wheelers do what they want.

Why isn't $100 a sufficient fine? Why is it $2500? That there alone tells you revenue is involved with rule making.

But, on average a typical truck driver on the phone, driving down the road 65 mph and comes up on a 60 mph truck....he will slow down and keep on talking versus passing. A minute or two later because his mind is focused on the phone conversation he will execute the pass. None of you can honestly say it doesn't effect your driving.
Looking for excuses to prove your point that you safely driven this long talking doesn't get rid of the fact your mind is somewhere else.

Sure there are many other distractions one can argue against. Those distractions last seconds versus minutes. A big difference.

Life will go on without a cell phone. The older drivers remember you had to stop and use a pay phone if you wanted to communicate with someone. They survived just fine. Alot of phone calls are useless conversations killing time. Just think of all the minutes you'll save

 

My focus on my driving does not suffer because I am talking to someone, whether passenger, on the phone, or on the CB. The conversation suffers. My focus is on my driving first. If you can't think and drive at the same time, then don't.

 

Sure the one on the phone thinks that. Let someone observe from the outside and they will see differences.

Just an observation. That's why I said on average. Just because one out of ten can do it.....

 

I really do not see it making a difference at all.

The texting ban has been in place for a while. It is still being done. Not by me, since I have it disabled. I see people searching on the internet by phone and computer.

 

Here in the UK we have a cell phone ban in all vehicles. There are far too many distractions in vehicles as it is already. For those who say it doesn't impair judgement and concentration, talk to those families who have had loved ones killed or injured due to careless driving. Anything that makes the highways safer to work on is good in my book.

 

For those that think talking on the phone while using a headset is distracting, I guess we better ban talking to anyone in the vehicle as well. There is no difference between the two. Some people can't handle talking to a passenger without problems, others can. If I'm using a headset, then butt out of my life.

Texting while driving . . . definitely should not be done.

In general, we need to stop regulating things just because of some stupid idiots. We have to label to go coffee containers because some IDIOT didn't know that coffee is hot. We have so many stupid laws on the books BECAUSE of IDIOTS. Enough with the laws and regulations, start enforcing what's already in place, and butt out of my life because I can walk and chew gum at the same time!

 

I heard something about that on a radio show - it goes like:

Someone in the vehicle acts like another pair of eyes on the road. A driver will take cues from what the passenger does and says. They'll shut up when they get nervous, they'll push down with their feet if they think they are following a car too closely - and the driver gets all this information.

A cellphone gives no cues to a driver - it makes a person's peripheral vision shrink to nothing and frontal vision shrink in size, which is weird, but I guess some scientists say that's what happens.

Lilbit, you can do it, but many can't. They are the ones who have become the statistics that tell us people are better drivers without cellphones. Well, them and the ones they injure...

 

I don't buy that crap for one minute! Scientists these days say a lot of stuff that is dubious at best!
I've been using phones in trucks since the 80's and have never had a problem! The problem in my honest opinion is the caliber of people that they put behind the wheel these days...Most of these "Crash Test Dummies" have no business even standing NEAR a truck much less trying to drive one but the bottom feeders keep puttin' them out there!

 

View the movie "Idiocracy". It proves the point that the idiots outnumber the rest of us, and the gap is growing with every generation...