Truck drivers cannot use handheld devices on the road. This is a clear rule laid out by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. There are some situations in which they can push one button to use a hands-free device when communication is necessary, but a truck driver should never be using their personal cellphone or holding it in their hand to text, call, operate the GPS or do anything else.
The problem is that a handheld device is a significant safety issue and it distracts the driver from the traffic conditions around them. Even if they are glancing back and forth from the phone to the road, they are not paying as much attention as they should be. Semi-trucks can weigh up to 80,000 pounds and pose significant risks to motorists around them, so drivers are required to be more attentive.
Long stopping distances
A related issue is that trucks have long stopping distances of around 525 feet. This is much longer than the comparable stopping distance for a passenger car, which is slightly over 300 feet.
What this means is that, if traffic conditions change or traffic starts to slow ahead of the truck, that truck driver needs to react much sooner than the drivers around them. In order to react appropriately, they have to be paying attention to the road. A driver who is looking at their cellphone may not start braking in time, and the extended stopping distance—due to the weight of their vehicle—could make it impossible for them to avoid causing a rear-end accident.
Financial compensation after a crash
Have you been involved in an accident caused by a commercial driver? If you have suffered serious injuries, you need to know what legal steps to take to seek financial compensation for medical bills and more.