White House reviews cell phone usage rule

The U.S. Department of Transportation has proposed a ban on texting while driving for truckers.

The U.S. Department of Transportation has drafted a proposed regulation that would ban text messaging and restrict cell phone use while operating a commercial motor vehicle.

The White House Office of Management and Budget has just received the proposal and must clear it before it is published. Details of the proposal will not be disclosed until the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration sends it to the Federal Register for publication. According to a monthly DOT report, White House review is expected to be swift, potentially allowing for publication of the proposed rule by the end of March.

The proposed new restrictions on texting and cell phone use are among steps DOT and its agencies have taken in response to growing worries over the impact of driver texting. In January, FMCSA issued regulatory guidance that interpreted existing regulations governing equipment allowed on trucks aimed to prohibit texting. The prohibition, which carries a penalty of up to $2,750, did not address use of cell phones. In addition, DOT is proposing to write its texting ban into regulation rather than relying on interpretation of existing rules.

President Obama also signed an executive order prohibiting all federal employments from texting while driving. A recent study conducted by Virginia Tech found that a driver was 23 times more likely to have a safety-critical event while texting than a non-distracted driver. DOT held a summit on distracted driving at the end of September and launched a website to provide news and resources on the issue.