The United States Department of Transportation recently proposed to ban text messaging while driving by interstate truck and bus drivers.  This regulatory action follows up on Transportation Department public service program to mitigate distracted drivers that lead to crashes.

The plan would replace the temporary ban put in place earlier in the year by Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.  The planned ban applies to drivers of passenger buses and commercial trucks operating vehicles weighing more than ten thousand pounds.  As an indication of the scope of the issue, the drivers could face civil penalities and/or even criminal penalties.

The US Transportation Department reports almost 6,000 people died and about 515,000 were injured in 2008 in crashes involving distracted drivers.  The department didn’t speculate how many of those deaths and injuries involved an electronic device.  The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reflects the Transportation Department estimates with projection that about eighty percent of accidents are caused by distracted drivers.  The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety is funding research to determine the extent of the distracted driver problem.  The Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA)   states that driver inattention is a leading factor in many accidents, and cell phone calls and texting are some of the most common driver distractions.

States aren’t waiting for data and are issuing new laws dealing with mobile phone calls  and texting .  The GHSA reports that twenty states plus Washington DC outlaw all drivers from texting while behind the wheel.  An additional nine states against texting by beginning drivers.  Most states are expected to implement the ban eventually.  However it is also widely recognized that the laws are not enough to stop the problem and technology is neede.  The GHSA says it supports texting bans for all drivers, but does have concerns about enforcement.

One source of a potential solution is Phone Beagle.  Their software is installed on Android and BlackBerry mobile phones and monitors GPS location, and text messages along with other phone log events.

The trucking and passenger bus industries support the texting ban, and many companies have strict policies against sending text messages when behind the wheel.  The government, industry and safety organizations all agree that driver distraction  caused bytexting is extremely dangerous, and deserves action.  Advocates for dealing with the problem also include media powerhouse Oprah.  

Undoubtedly there are many distractions interfering with a driver focusing on driving:  changing the radio or a putting in tape or CD, talking to passengers, rubber necking, and of course, using cellphones and sending text messages.  Navigational and other interactive devices also cause inattention.

As regulations and technology develop to solve the issues a software package from  Phone Beagle is available to help deal with monitoring phone use.  Their software is installed on Android and BlackBerry smartphones and monitors GPS location, and text messages along with other phone log activity.

The United States Department of Transportation recently proposed to ban text messaging while driving by interstate truck and bus drivers.  This regulatory action follows up on Transportation Department public service program to mitigate distracted drivers that lead to crashes.

The plan would replace the temporary ban put in place earlier in the year by Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.  The planned ban applies to drivers of passenger buses and commercial trucks operating vehicles weighing more than ten thousand pounds.  As an indication of the scope of the issue, the drivers could face civil penalities and/or even criminal penalties.

The US Transportation Department reports almost 6,000 people died and about 515,000 were injured in 2008 in crashes involving distracted drivers.  The department didn’t speculate how many of those deaths and injuries involved an electronic device.  The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reflects the Transportation Department estimates with projection that about eighty percent of accidents are caused by distracted drivers.  The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety is funding research to determine the extent of the distracted driver problem.  The Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA)   states that driver inattention is a leading factor in many accidents, and cell phone calls and texting are some of the most common driver distractions.

States aren’t waiting for data and are issuing new laws dealing with mobile phone calls  and texting .  The GHSA reports that twenty states plus Washington DC outlaw all drivers from texting while behind the wheel.  An additional nine states against texting by beginning drivers.  Most states are expected to implement the ban eventually.  However it is also widely recognized that the laws are not enough to stop the problem and technology is neede.  The GHSA says it supports texting bans for all drivers, but does have concerns about enforcement.

One source of a potential solution is Phone Beagle.  Their software is installed on Android and BlackBerry mobile phones and monitors GPS location, and text messages along with other phone log events.

The trucking and passenger bus industries support the texting ban, and many companies have strict policies against sending text messages when behind the wheel.  The government, industry and safety organizations all agree that driver distraction  caused bytexting is extremely dangerous, and deserves action.  Advocates for dealing with the problem also include media powerhouse Oprah.  

Undoubtedly there are many distractions interfering with a driver focusing on driving:  changing the radio or a putting in tape or CD, talking to passengers, rubber necking, and of course, using cellphones and sending text messages.  Navigational and other interactive devices also cause inattention.

As regulations and technology develop to solve the issues a software package from  Phone Beagle is available to help deal with monitoring phone use.  Their software is installed on Android and BlackBerry smartphones and monitors GPS location, and text messages along with other phone log activity.

The United States Department of Transportation recently proposed to ban text messaging while driving by interstate truck and bus drivers.  This regulatory action follows up on Transportation Department public service program to mitigate distracted drivers that lead to crashes.

The plan would replace the temporary ban put in place earlier in the year by Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.  The planned ban applies to drivers of passenger buses and commercial trucks operating vehicles weighing more than ten thousand pounds.  As an indication of the scope of the issue, the drivers could face civil penalities and/or even criminal penalties.

The US Transportation Department reports almost 6,000 people died and about 515,000 were injured in 2008 in crashes involving distracted drivers.  The department didn’t speculate how many of those deaths and injuries involved an electronic device.  The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reflects the Transportation Department estimates with projection that about eighty percent of accidents are caused by distracted drivers.  The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety is funding research to determine the extent of the distracted driver problem.  The Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA)   states that driver inattention is a leading factor in many accidents, and cell phone calls and texting are some of the most common driver distractions.

States aren’t waiting for data and are issuing new laws dealing with mobile phone calls  and texting .  The GHSA reports that twenty states plus Washington DC outlaw all drivers from texting while behind the wheel.  An additional nine states against texting by beginning drivers.  Most states are expected to implement the ban eventually.  However it is also widely recognized that the laws are not enough to stop the problem and technology is neede.  The GHSA says it supports texting bans for all drivers, but does have concerns about enforcement.

One source of a potential solution is Phone Beagle.  Their software is installed on Android and BlackBerry mobile phones and monitors GPS location, and text messages along with other phone log events.

The trucking and passenger bus industries support the texting ban, and many companies have strict policies against sending text messages when behind the wheel.  The government, industry and safety organizations all agree that driver distraction  caused bytexting is extremely dangerous, and deserves action.  Advocates for dealing with the problem also include media powerhouse Oprah. 

Undoubtedly there are many distractions interfering with a driver focusing on driving:  changing the radio or a putting in tape or CD, talking to passengers, rubber necking, and of course, using cellphones and sending text messages.  Navigational and other interactive devices also cause inattention.

As regulations and technology develop to solve the issues a software package from  Phone Beagle is available to help deal with monitoring phone use.  Their software is installed on Android and BlackBerry smartphones and monitors GPS location, and text messages along with other phone log activity.