Cell phone ban

I have always wondered why he does not have one.

 

I believe that the intent of the law is not to keep you from talking to someone (as evidenced by the allowance of hands-free devices), but rather to improve safety by keeping a driver from removing their hands from the controls. Since that is the case, then non hands-free CB radio use should also be banned, as using the PTT CB microphone would constitute as great a safety issue as a non-hands free phone device. Since using a CB PTT microphone is not prohibited by law, it is my opinion that it is a tacit agreement that removing one's hands from the CMV controls is NOT, in fact, a safety issue. Therefore, the law banning use of handheld devices by CMV drivers should be repealed.

 

You have to remove your hands from the controls eventually. Using a CB ptt mic you can still talk and keep both hands on the wheel.


Ethan

 

Using a PTT microphone attached to the CB is not the same as dialing a phone and holding the phone to the side of your head. You don't have to look at the CB microphone in order to operate it...most people keep theirs clipped or hooked in the same place all of the time, so they can reach up & grab it without looking for it...don't even have to take their eyes off the road at all. Once you have the microphone in your hand, you don't need to look for what button to press in order to talk, either...anyone who has ever used a CB before can operate it just fine without having to look at it. A cell phone, on the other hand, requires that you dial somebody's phone number...which without a hands free device involves not only your hands, but also your eyes in order to see which numbers you are dialing. If you're looking at your phone, you are NOT looking at the road.

Another part of the problem with cell phones is that when it rings, people start searching for it...did they leave it on the jump seat? In the bunk? Did it fall to the floor? They are trying to find it while driving down the road...their eyes are not on the road and neither is their attention. They know that they have about 30 seconds to find the phone and check the caller ID to see who it is before it goes to voice mail. Meanwhile, your truck is careening down the highway at 65 mph and your eyes aren't on the road. The CB conversation isn't as time-sensitive and requires no action on your part to receive a message. The other person can pass along whatever information he deems necessary without you doing anything...and when it is SAFE for you to respond, you can acknowledge the receipt of his transmission...keeping your eyes on the road the whole time.

CB and cell phones are two entirely different animals.

 

Correct.
I have never seen anyone drive badly while using the cb.

The number off drivers who are all over the place while driving at irratic speeds who then turn out to be holding a phone to their ear,well,i have lost count off.

I'm a O/O and if i had drivers working for me................they would NOT be allowed to have a mobile phone in the cab it they didn't have a handsfree device for said phone.
It is a danger.

BTW if you have an accident in the UK,first thing they do is look if there is a mobile in the vehicle and if there's a handsfree kit.
Then they check if a call was being done at the moment off the accident.(they look in the phone itself and ask the provider also)
If you were calling without handsfree...................the charge they give you is a higher one.

 

I was in PA the other day on Hwy 22, I'll bet in the 10 trucks that passed me/I passed, 8 had a cell phone stuck in their ear.

I run my own business and need to answer my phone if conditions allow it, but if people think they don't have to follow the "Hands Free Law" and cell phones get completely prohibited while a truck is in motion. I might as well go out of business because I don't have time to stop every time my phone rings and if I don't answer or return calls fast enough, those clients will call someone else.

 

Just a bit of information, I found out my cell phone and a tether cord to my radio turns the speakers into a hands free phone.

 

Well one of our drivers is on a 60 day vacation. Yeap he got stopped for using his cell phone without a headset. 2750 dollar fine to the driver and an 11,000 dollar fine for my boss to pay. Our company had sent out letters to ALL the drivers about using cell phones without hands free. This was his second serious violation in 3 years so he got a 60 day vacation and is on a 6 month probation with the company. If it would have been his first offence then he would have only gotten a 2 week vacation.

I got stopped the other day, I had gotten too close to the zipper line with MR full grown behind me. He walked up and asked if I was on the phone. my answer was nope and if I was it would have been using my Blue Parrot. I gave him my phone and he went through it and looked at my call log then said he was going to do a quick walk around since he had me stopped anyway.

They are taking this very serious and will stop you.

I really think it is time they up the ante on non comercial drivers also. This is getting way out of control and something needs to be done about people and their phones. NO ONE HAS TO BE CONNECTED THAT MUCH!!!!!

 

Well said bro

Ethan

 

You are right...particularly in a freewill state, they only have to say do it or be fired...no questions asked.