Cell Phone Ban For Bus, Truck Drivers Weighed - Obama admin to act on issue left hanging by * admin

[Kadie]

Cell Phone Ban For Bus, Truck Drivers Weighed
2-Day Summit To Be Held Next Week

JOAN LOWY, Associated Press Writer
POSTED: 12:17 am PDT September 24, 2009
UPDATED: 1:39 pm PDT September 24, 2009


WASHINGTON --
Safety investigators told federal regulators three years ago that it was dangerous for bus drivers to talk on cell phones while driving, and recommended a ban.

The National Transportation Safety Board put that recommendation on its list of most important safety measures. Industry and safety groups had no objections.

Yet the regulatory agency that would write new rules on cell phone use by commercial drivers, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, has done little more than study the issue.

Now, after several high-profile accidents that focused public attention on using cell phones on the road, the Obama administration has decided to act on the issue, which was left hanging by the Bush administration.

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood will convene a two-day summit next week on distracted driving and plans to announce actions to address cell phone use by bus and truck drivers, said spokeswoman Jill Zuckman.

The NTSB's recommendation was prompted by a 2004 accident in which the driver of a motorcoach carrying students on a trip to Washington became so engrossed in a cell phone conversation that he failed to notice signs that said the height of an upcoming bridge was nearly 2 feet less than the height of the bus. The bus slammed into the underside of the bridge, shearing off the roof and injuring 11 passengers.

more...
http://www.kcra.com/automotive/21098526/detail.html

[brewens]

1. Duh!

My company already bans talking on cell phone while driving. I have blood center staff riding on the bus with me so it's no problem. They answer the phone.
In my personal vehicle it's not a problem. I usually have the tunes cranked up too loud to hear it ring anyway:)

[htuttle]

2. That's actually how Megabus communicates with its drivers

The drivers use cell phones to talk to dispatchers.
...
...
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BTW, don't ever ride Megabus. Totally stranded my wife and I in KC last year. Left 25 of us standing there one night!

[Mrs. Overall]

3. Ban them. I speak as someone who was hit by a driver who ran a red light while on her phone--

and she was going fast. Threw my car across an intersection onto the steps of a bank. By the grace of god, I wasn't killed.

Ban them.

[csziggy]

4. Just install one of these - that will block cell phone signals

At least for the driver. It is intended for private vehicles, but I'd bet they could set up a system for commercial ones.

http://www.safedrivingsystems.com/

The Key2SafeDriving solution is patented technology that includes mobile phone software, a hardware key and web services, which when combined, provide a way to monitor, report and regulate mobile phone activity while driving.

* Key2SafeDriving is easy to implement and can be installed by anyone within a matter of minutes. No tools are required.

* Key2SafeDriving is a cost-effective solution that doesn’t require GPS or expensive hardware to implement.

* Drivers maintain the ability to make emergency calls from their cell phone when Key2SafeDriving is activated in Safe Driving Mode.

* Key2SafeDriving is not a cell phone ‘jammer’, but reroutes calls directly to voice mail and sends automated text message responses saying that the driver will respond when they have safely reached their destination.

[TheCowsCameHome]

5. Ban them all while driving.

[yost69]

6. Why just buses and trucks? Why not ban them for all drivers? n/t