U.S. NTSB calls for nationwide ban on use of mobile phones by commercial drivers

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U.S. NTSB calls for nationwide ban on use of mobile phones by commercial drivers

2011-09-14 01:53:39 GMT+7 (ICT)

WASHINGTON, D.C. (BNO NEWS) -- The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) on Tuesday called on state governments and federal agencies to ban the use of mobile phones by commercial drivers except in an emergency.

The recommendation comes as investigators have concluded their investigation into a deadly accident on Interstate 65 in southern Kentucky on March 26, 2010. The crash left eleven people dead, including three young children.

According to the investigation, a truck-tractor semitrailer combination unit driven by a 45-year-old male departed the left lane of southbound I-65, crossed a 60-foot-wide (18-meter-wide) median, struck and overrode a cable barrier system, entered the northbound travel lanes, and collided head-on with a van carrying 15 family members.

Investigators determined that the driver, who was killed in the crash, used his mobile phone for calls and text messages a total of 69 times while driving in the 24-hour period prior to the accident. The driver made four calls in the minutes leading up to the crash, making the last call at 5:14 a.m. CDT, coinciding with the time that the truck departed the highway.

"Distracted driving is becoming increasingly prevalent, exacerbating the danger we encounter daily on our roadways," said NTSB Chairman Deborah A.P. Hersman. "It can be especially lethal when the distracted driver is at the wheel of a vehicle that weighs 40 tons and travels at highway speeds."

In addition to the driver's use of a cell phone, investigators also determined that the median barrier system, which had recently been installed following another accident, contributed to the severity of the accident because it was not designed to redirect or contain a vehicle of the truck's size.

At a meeting in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday, the NTSB issued 15 new safety recommendations to all 50 states, as well as the District of Columbia, and numerous federal agencies such as the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

To all 50 states and D.C., as well as the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), the NTSB urged a ban on the use of both handheld and hands-free cellular telephones by all commercial driver's license holders while driving in commercial operations, except in emergencies.

There are currently no federal laws against the use of mobile phones while driving, although a number of U.S. states have passed their own distracted driving bans. According to the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA), nine states, D.C. and the Virgin Islands prohibit all drivers from using handheld cell phones while driving.

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