What do Oprah, the Department of Transportation, the Triple A, insurance companies and, state governors have in common?
The US Department of Transportation recently presented a proposal to ban text messaging while driving by cross-state truck and bus drivers. This regulatory action follows up on its public service program to reduce distracted drivers that cause accidents.
The plan would replace the temporary ban put in place in January by Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. The proposed 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, violators could face civil penalities and/or even criminal charges.
The United States Department of Transportation reports that 5,870 people were killed and over a half million were injured in 2008 in crashes involving driver distraction. The department didn’t speculate how many of those deaths and injuries involved mobile phone. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration mirror the Transportation Department estimates with an estimate that around eighty percent of crashes are caused by distracted drivers. The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety is funding research to find out the extent of the distraction problem. The Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) reports that driver inattention is a determining factor in many crashes, and mobile phone calls and texting are leading causes of driver distractions.
State legislators aren’t waiting for research reports and are issuing new laws dealing with cell phone calls and texting . The GHSA reports that currently 20 states and the District of Columbia prohibit all drivers from sending text messages when behind the wheel. Another nine states against texting by new drivers. The remaining states are expected to implement the ban before too long. But it is also widely recognized that the laws are not enough to stop the problem and technology is required. The Governors Highway Safety Association says it supports texting bans for all drivers, but does have concerns about enforcement.
A leading source of a potential solution is Phone Beagle. Their software installs on Android and BlackBerry smartPhones and monitors GPS location, and text messages along with other phone log activity.
The trucking and passenger bus trade associations support the text message prohibition, and many corporations have enforced policies against sending text messages when driving. The government, industry and safety organizations have found common ground that driver distraction caused bytexting is extremely dangerous, and deserves action. Advocates for addressing the problem also include media powerhouse Oprah Winfrey.
The issue is emerging as a new phenomenon. As navigation systems, mobile phones and other mobile Electronics have become common in vehicles, safety advocates and the government have pushed for action to curb the problem.
As legislation and technology develop to solve the issues a software package from Phone Beagle is available to help deal with monitoring phone use. PhoneBeagle is installed on Android and BlackBerry Cell Phones and monitors GPS location, and text messages along with other phone log events.