"Truck drivers caught texting while driving" article.

A Ford expedition is just at (or just over) 6000 lbs with no driver/passengers or cargo. The Suburban/Tahoe weighs in at/around 5800 curb weight. And Excursion was well over 7k curb weight. I have no interest in being hit by any of them.

 

as per the FMCSA,
First time fine to the truck driver is a min. of $2,750.00
If said driver is a company driver, the company also gets a $11,000 fine.
Is your job really worth texting while driving?

 

I just read an article on CNN, a guy was posting on fb while in his car, veered into the oncoming lane and head on into a truck... He didnt make it.

 

I don't even text at home let alone in a vehicle. I need a qwerty keyboard at least 18". There's an idea!! :smt115 We can make the center of the steering wheel a qwerty keyboard.

 

How much did these journalist get paid to focus only on the trk drivers.Texting and talking on the phone is an accident waiting to happen,especially in conjested areas like we seen on this video,but why only focus on the trk drivers.Are 4wheelers so perfect they do nothing wrong.I have seen quite a few times officers on their cells whiles driving.I wont talk text or see who text or called me till im stopped.But lets be real here truckers are not the only ones who practice poor safety while driving.

 

The lead on this story is from families that have had loved one's killed by a texting truck driver. That is a bigger lead than a Mom texting while driving Jr around. There is more money to be made by jumping on a truck driver than a divorced mother with 12 kid's.
And as stated, most of these drivers caught texting were local box truck drivers around NYC. Until the LEO's start stopping "EVERY" driver and hitting them with the same fines as CDL driver's, it won't change.
They say all of this is in the name of safety, but until the fines make the people deathly afraid to text while driving, they will continue on as always.
And then the idiot reporters also need to be educated as to what "WE" truck driver's really consider a truck, thing's won't change. "WE" will always be a target, cause you all know, US truck driver's are all RICH.

 

Yes, texting while driving is (and should be) a no no. But, why focus on just the truckers? I consistently see the State Troopers doing it all the time. Yep, while they are driving.
Enough of this "First Responder" hero worship. These guys/and gals are just working stiffs like the rest of us. Nothing more. They even get to wear nice costumes while they work.
We're all subject to the same laws. And if they're "brave heroes", then we all are; regardless if you're driving in a raging blizzard on icy roads or if you're facing a bullet. Personally, I'd rather face the bullet. Probably safer.
How about a citizens' arrest program where, if we see these authorities breaking the law, we have the legal right to detain and even arrest them for their infractions? Make em' live up to the "serve" part in "To Protect and to Serve". Oh yeah, I forgot; that motto has been quietly removed from state property over the last few years.

 

I remember looking at fold-out maps long ago and looking up at the road and wondering how long I just drove only using my peripheral vision. Always been distractions. Map reading wasn't considered as hip as tweeking my face and texting.

 

I recentely caught a ride with a family member, the 97 miles from Jackson MS, to Meridian MS. Very sweet of him to volunteer to take me...but I will NEVER, EVER, EVER take him up on it again.

We rode down in his police cruiser...at an average speed of oh...maybe 90?

Never once, in the entire time did he
A. Use a turn signal
B. Look before changing lanes
C. adjust his speed according to the car (or truck) he was approaching at 90mph
D. have both hands on the wheel...

But the most horrifying bad habit..he never once PUT HIS CELL PHONE DOWN.

Although, the 60 mph approach to a known to be dangerous, blind 35mph curve, and hearing the engine rev as he stomped the accelerator...was actually scarier than the cell phone...

NEVER EVER EVER AGAIN...

 

My brother is also a cop and is also guilty guilty guilty of driving like an idiot simply because he "can".