Maryland Bans Handheld Cell Phone Use While Driving; Wisconsin Bans Texting While Driving

Maryland is the latest state to ban the use of handheld cell phones while driving. On May 20, Gov. Martin O’Malley signed into law a bill that makes it a secondary offense to be caught using a handheld cell phone while driving. This means an officer can enforce the law only after observing a driver committing another offense, such as running a stop sign. Under the new law, which will take effect on October 1, drivers will be permitted to use a hands-free device for talking.

Wisconsin recently enacted a law banning texting while driving. On May 5, Gov. Jim Doyle signed into law a bill that makes it a primary offense to be caught texting on a mobile device while driving. The new law will take effect on December 1. With the Wisconsin ban, 50 percent of states have enacted a ban on texting. Governors Highway Safety Association’s executive director Barbara Harsha said that she expected another 10 to 15 states to act on a texting ban within the next year.

View a comprehensive list of all cell phone- and texting-while-driving bans by state.

Cell phone use while driving and text messaging while driving are just two examples of distracted driving. Learn more about distracted driving.

New Drivers Should Implement Circle of Safety

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 9 percent growth in trucking jobs by 2018, which represents more than 290,000 jobs. During the economic downturn, thousands of Americans are turning to commercial driving as a career alternative. Read about the growth of trucking jobs.

An important issue for new commercial motor vehicle drivers is their general knowledge of trucking safety. To help keep safety in mind, in addition to an inspection prior to any long haul, drivers should complete a "Circle of Safety" check prior to each drive. The Circle of Safety is simply one complete walk around the entire truck with a mental checklist of items to inspect.

A standard Circle of Safety should include:

Lights – Check the headlights, fog lights, stop, turn, and clearance lights. Replace dead bulbs and keep extras on-board.

Glass – Check the windshield, side windows, and mirrors for scratches, cracks, and excessive dirt. Use glass cleaner to help remove tree sap, tar, and other road grime.

Wheels – Check the tire treads, sidewalls, and inflation levels. Be sure to look for nails, stones, and other road debris that can get embedded in tires. Examine lug nuts to help ensure they are tight and not cross-threaded.

Cargo – Check the doors to ensure they are closed and that cargo is properly secured. Check hitches, electrical connections, and retainers, and be sure to check regularly because cargo can shift during trips.

Once the exterior inspection is complete, make sure the radio, phone, and horn are working. Remember to buckle your safety belt and stay mindful of safety.

State Funding for Safety Programs to Increase

As an effort to boost state-managed fleet safety compliance, DOT compliance, and safety consulting programs, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) established new state registration fees distributed to states that participate in the Unified Carrier Registration Program (UCRP). Enforcement of fees will begin on July 15.

The fees were set higher than last year’s fees, yet they are lower than what was proposed by the agency in 2009.

Number of Vehicles	Previous Fee	New Fee
1 - 2	$39	$76
3 – 5	$116	$227
6 – 20	$231	$452
21 – 100	$806	$1,576
101 – 1,000	$3,840	$7,511
1,001 – 200,000	$37,500	$73,346

The new fees only apply to commercial motor vehicle power units and were launched April 27th. The increased state registration fees may help to remedy fee-based revenue shortfalls that have been experienced by states due to inadequate payment enforcement at roadside inspections and also due to carriers miscounting power units.

Read more about the fee increase.

Smart Cars of the Future are Closer than You Think

Automobiles that communicate with drivers have been around for a while. However, under a new initiative from the Department of Transportation, cars will soon be communicating with each other. US Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood announced the initiative during a speech at ITSA 2010.

Vehicle-to-vehicle communication technology would give cars a standard method to communicate by combining a GPS system with a wireless communication system similar to Wi-Fi. Drivers would be warned if they were making a lane change and a car was in their blind spot, or the car could automatically apply the brakes when the driver doesn't notice the stalled truck ahead.

According to DOT statistics, an estimated 76 percent of crashes involving unimpaired drivers could be prevented using the technology. The technology is already an option in some newer cars, but the Intelligent Transportation Systems being proposed are much more advanced and comprehensive.

"We are fully committed to dedicated short-range communications that can deliver real-time information and data to and between vehicles on the road," said Secretary LaHood. In a related story, CNET reports that IBM will partner with the Texas Transportation Institute to test the next generation of vehicle communications and analytical tools. Read more about this partnership.

Read an article about the DOT’s IntelliDrive Initiative.

Visit the IntelliDrive website.

Commercial Truck Drivers in Western US are the Safest

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) released a study showing seventy-nine percent of commercial truck drivers in the Western US were using their safety belts in 2009. This region has the highest percentage of safety belt usage in the US. The lowest rated region in the US was the Northeast with only sixty-four percent.

Commercial Safety Belt usage by region:

• Northeast 64%
• Midwest 68%
• South 75%
• West 79%

Overall, commercial truck drivers increased safety belt usage from sixty-five percent in 2007 to seventy-four percent in 2009.

A recent article published in the Commercial Carrier Journal quoted U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, who stated, “Safety belts save lives. We applaud those who are buckling up, but we won’t rest until every commercial driver is using a safety belt.”

One other interesting finding is that commercial safety belt usage is higher in states where not wearing a safety belt is considered a primary offense. This deterrent appears to be one of the most effective methods to increase safety belt usage.

Read the executive summary for the Seat Belt Usage by Commercial Motor Vehicle Drivers 2009 Survey.

Source: Commercial Carrier Journal: 3/22/10

FHWA Proposes Revisions to the MUTCD

On April 22, 2010, the Federal Register published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking regarding revisions to the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), which were proposed by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). The MUTCD is the national standard for traffic control devices used on all publicly traveled roadways.

The proposed revision to the MUTCD will add standards, guidance, options, and support information on maintaining uniform minimum levels for retroreflectivity of pavement markings. (Such standards were put into place regarding minimum levels of retroreflectivity for roadway signs in 2007.)

The notice states that the proposed revisions will “promote safety, enhance traffic operations, and facilitate comfort and convenience for all drivers, including older drivers” by establishing a minimum standard for nighttime pavement marking performance. Read the notice.

The minimum standard proposed by the FHWA is based on their research on drivers' nighttime visibility needs. Comments on the proposed revisions are being accepted until August 20, 2010.

Learn more about nighttime visibility, retroreflective pavement markings, and related issues at the FHWA’s “Nighttime Visibility” website.

Washington Fortifies Law on Hands-Free Cell Phone Use While Driving

On March 26, Washington became the 6th state to pass a law making it a primary offense to be caught holding a cell phone to your ear while driving.

By making it a primary offense to use a cell phone without a headset while driving, a law enforcement officer can stop any driver seen holding a cell phone to their ear. Previously, this was considered a secondary offense; it could only be enforced if the driver was stopped for another infraction, such as speeding.

The others states passing laws that make talking without a headset a primary offense are California, Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, and Oregon. The District of Columbia has also enacted this law. Read more about the law.