U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood Announces Federal Ban on Texting for Commercial Truck Drivers

U.S Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood today announced federal guidance to expressly prohibit texting by drivers of commercial vehicles such as large trucks and buses. The prohibition is effective immediately and is the latest in a series of actions taken by the Department to combat distracted driving since the Secretary convened a national summit on the issue last September.

“We want the drivers of big rigs and buses and those who share the roads with them to be safe,” said Secretary LaHood. “This is an important safety step and we will be taking more to eliminate the threat of distracted driving.”

The action is the result of the Department’s interpretation of standing rules. Truck and bus drivers who text while driving commercial vehicles may be subject to civil or criminal penalties of up to $2,750.

“Our regulations will help prevent unsafe activity within the cab,” said Anne Ferro, Administrator for the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). “We want to make it crystal clear to operators and their employers that texting while driving is the type of unsafe activity that these regulations are intended to prohibit.”

FMCSA research shows that drivers who send and receive text messages take their eyes off the road for an average of 4.6 seconds out of every 6 seconds while texting. At 55 miles per hour, this means that the driver is traveling the length of a football field, including the end zones, without looking at the road. Drivers who text while driving are more than 20 times more likely to get in an accident than non-distracted drivers. Because of the safety risks associated with the use of electronic devices while driving, FMCSA is also working on additional regulatory measures that will be announced in the coming months.

During the September 2009 Distracted Driving Summit, the Secretary announced the Department’s plan to pursue this regulatory action, as well as rulemakings to reduce the risks posed by distracted driving. President Obama also signed an Executive Order directing federal employees not to engage in text messaging while driving government- owned vehicles or with government-owned equipment. Federal employees were required to comply with the ban starting on December 30, 2009.

The above release is available online at:
http://www.distraction.gov/files/dot/MotorCarrierPressRelease.pdf.

For more information on distracted driving, visit: http://www.distraction.gov/.

For a list of cell phone and texting bans on a state-by-state basis, go to:
http://www.ghsa.org/html/stateinfo/laws/cellphone_laws.html.

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Virginia Rest Area, Mile 54 South, I-81, one of the rest areas to be closed July 21, 2009.

States are discovering they can save millions of dollars, in some cases, by closing interstate rest areas that produce little or no direct income. Virginia, for example, is closing 18 interstate rest areas next week (July 21, 2009), and one of their welcome centers on I-66 in September, for a reported savings of almost $9 million annually. Maine is closing two rest areas on I-95 to save about $700,000. Vermont has already temporarily closed four rest areas, and is considering permanently closing six rest areas, for a savings of $1 million annually. Louisiana has closed 24 of its 34 rest areas since 2000, four of them last year. Colorado, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Arizona and others are also considering closing highway rest areas.

One of Virginia's rest areas on I-81, closed 7/21/09 for budgetary reasons.

And what about buses? Fifty passengers descending on McDonald’s to use the restrooms may be slow but workable, at least occasionally … but what about multiple buses? Few small businesses can handle the parking needs of a motorcoach, let alone a sudden crowd of 50 or more people arriving at the same time. Trucks will have similar issues when it comes to parking needs. Rest stops have provided them a safe, off-the-road parking spot to catch a nap or just take a safety break. With more trucks parked on the shoulders of the highway, everyone’s safety is jeopardized. Studies have shown that the greater the distance between rest stops, the higher the truck accident rate.

Many small attractions in communities across the country have not been able to afford advertising other than the brochure racks in rest stops. Even larger attractions benefit significantly from the advertising opportunities at rest areas. Some will experience significantly fewer visitors from the loss of exposure and may ultimately close.

So short term, yes, states save a few dollars by closing rest areas. But it seems very shortsighted to me, with a very high potential cost down the road, from both an economic and safety standpoint. What do you think? Add your comments below.

UPDATE 7-28-09 — Here’s a link to a complete list of Virginia’s rest areas (from Virginia DOT) showing both open and closed rest areas that may be helpful:

http://virginiadot.org/travel/map-rest-area.asp

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1. Introduce yourself, as the person in charge, to your driver.

You’d be amazed how often we have to guess or ask around the group to find out who is in charge of things like letting us know when you’re ready to depart, confirm destinations and time schedules, letting us know that all passengers have boarded, etc. Sometimes our paperwork tells us who’s in charge and we can find you, but just as often the person listed on our paperwork is the person who booked the coach for the trip, not the person who’s actually in charge on trip day.

2. Ride Bus #1, and sit in the front of the coach.

If you’ve booked multiple coaches for your group, the overall group leader should ride on the first coach in the group. Sometimes last minute “executive decisions” need to be made en route, and it’s difficult to do that when there’s no one in charge on the first coach. Sit up front where the driver can talk to you if/when necessary, or at least be prepared to move to the front quickly when needed.

3. Make sure your group understands that you’re in charge.

Introduce yourself to your group (or other bus captains) as the “go to” person if there’s a problem or a decision that needs to be made on behalf of the group. Don’t put the driver(s) in the position of having to negotiate between passengers, group leaders, and previously arranged trip plans. The group leader is the contact person between the driver and the group.

4. Allow time to review trip plans with the driver before you depart the pickup point.

Drivers are usually pretty good at double checking trip plans with the group leader, including things like selection of the route, plans for rest stops along the way, etc. But sometimes trips are less well organized and the group leader is so rushed, we’re on the road before we’ve confirmed the details. If things have changed since the original itinerary was given to the driver, it can make it difficult for the driver to make adjustments en route. Also, give the driver the overall picture for the day if it’s not clear from the itinerary. We like to research things like directions and bus parking ahead of time when possible.

5. Remember, the driver likes to eat, too.

Too often groups will try and make up time by eating meals on the bus. That’s not a problem, as long as the group hasn’t already been traveling all day and the driver has had time for a meal. Expecting the driver to eat while driving, or to skip meals altogether, is definitely not a good idea. Make sure your driver has time off — 30 minutes, at least — to get a meal and eat before he has to continue driving at meal times.

6. Allow adequate time for rest stops along the way.

Yes, the coach has a bathroom. But it’s not really designed to handle everyone on the bus using it multiple times during the day — it’s there for emergency use for those who just can’t wait until the next rest stop. With a full bus, you need to allow a minimum of 10 to 15 minutes every 2-3 hours for a bathroom break. Even those who don’t need the bathroom break will enjoy being able to get off the coach and stretch their legs.

7. Exchange cell phone numbers with the driver.

This will usually be initiated by the driver, but don’t hesitate to ask if he/she forgets. You may not need to use the phone numbers, but just in case — things do change — you want to be able to communicate with your driver. He/she needs your number, just as you need theirs. But don’t give the driver’s cell phone number to the rest of the passengers, especially if it’s his personal cell phone number — give them yours, instead.

8. Don’t ask or expect the driver to subsidize the cost of your trip.

Motorcoach drivers rely on gratuities for a substantial part of their income — and that’s good for you and your group — a merit-based pay system! Don’t cut back on the gratuity for your driver because of a cutback in your group’s trip budget. If your driver has done a good job for you, he/she deserves to be paid.

Your motorcoach driver is a professional and can help make your trip a success. We want it to be a great experience for everyone, including you, the group leader! Just a little time, planning, and good communication are all it takes. Your comments or questions are welcome.

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[tip]CMV Web-Based Driving Tips[/tip]

Included are video clips in each article illustrating things drivers have done incorrectly, along with tips on how to correct or avoid bad situations. Here’s a list of some of the areas covered:

• Failure to Buckle Up
• Too Fast for Conditions
• Unfamiliar Roadway
• Inadequate Surveillance
• Driver Fatigue
• Driver Distraction
• Following Too Closely
• Inadequate Evasive Action

I’m planning to do a short summary of each area here over the next several days. Meanwhile, read ahead, do your homework, and check out their site!

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The Dreaded DriveCam Red Light

The DriveCam actually has two video cameras — one facing the driver and interior of the coach, and the other facing outward through the windshield toward the road ahead. It’s always turned on, but only records information when it’s triggered by an exceptional force — hard braking, swerving, collision, etc. Then it saves about 20 seconds of video — half before and half after the event that triggered it. It’s intended for two purposes: 1) encouraging drivers to drive more smoothly and carefully; and 2) in the event of a collision, to assess liability.

I’ve always prided myself in smooth driving: easy starts, smooth stops, slow turns; it’s important to me that passengers are comfortable and feel safe when I’m driving. It’s very rewarding to receive compliments on smooth driving, and I do get them regularly. So it’s really a blow to my pride when I bring a coach back to the terminal at night with the red light lit.

Early Thursday afternoon I had dropped my group off for lunch in Philadelphia, and was on my way to find parking. A car in front of me started to make a right hand turn, then unexpectedly came to a complete stop still blocking my lane. I had to brake harder than normal to avoid a collision. I didn’t think much about it, since I had no passengers, until I looked over at the camera and saw I had set it off — that little light, normally green, was now a bright red! Ugh.

That red light glared at me the rest of the day. It seemed to get brighter every time I looked at it. My only consolation was that it had happened when I had no passengers, and that it was set off by just a harder than normal stop, nothing serious. But it also becomes serious motivation to adjust my driving to avoid similar situations in the future. The DriveCam people claim that when their product is installed on commercial vehicles, it has reduced vehicle damages, workers’ compensation and personal injury costs by 50 percent. I can see how that might be so, and that’s certainly powerful incentive for their use.

On the one hand, it’s “big brother” watching over your shoulder all the time. But at the same time I realize that some day the camera might be my vindication if I’m ever unfortunate enough to be involved in a collision with another driver. If I were the owner of the company I drive for, and had invested the millions of dollars in motorcoaches that are on the road every day, I’d want to have an eye on what was happening, too. So I can’t fault the company for installing them, or the insurance company for encouraging their use. It’s an imperfect world, and the cameras are here to stay.

What do you think? Has the presence of cameras changed the way you drive? What issues have you had with them? Have they ever exonerated you in a collision? I’m interested in hearing your stories and opinions.

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[warning]Drivers — be sure your medical certificate is with you and up to date![/warning]

She also reminds drivers that effective April 1, 2009, you shall have in your possession at all times a valid medical certificate updated with any current changes. Your vehicle can be placed out of service on the roadside if you don’t have it or it is out of date.

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A Love-Hate Relationship

To most motorcoach charter and tour bus drivers who have the “good fortune” of driving trips to New York City, this parking sign seems an endangered species. In the last several months we’ve lost a couple of drivers’ favorite parking spots — 59th Street (between 11th and 12th Avenues), and 62nd Street by Lincoln Center. Last year we had lost another favorite, 36th Street by Midtown Tunnel. If we didn’t already feel unwanted in the Big Apple, now it seemed there was no doubt.

But there may be hope. In the last month, a crop of these new signs have popped up on streets in Manhattan previously unavailable for our use. As mentioned in a post here last week, these signs are now posted on parts of 48th, 49th, 50th, 52nd, and 54th Streets between 11th and 12th Avenues, and along 12th Avenue (east side) between 52nd and 54th Streets. And look closely — the new signs specify “CHARTER BUSES” — not tour buses as in the past! On several other streets, 45th Street, for instance, I’ve noticed the signs have been changed from “TOUR BUSES” to “CHARTER BUSES.” Does that mean no more line run buses fighting for our spots? One can hope … time will tell.

There still isn’t nearly enough bus parking in NYC, but at least we now have a little more than we lost. It’s a start. In combination with the reduced number of coaches in the city right now, thanks to the economy and the time of the year, it’s been a little easier to find parking the last couple of months.

Cars on a Rack in NYC

Parking has always been at a premium in NYC. One has only to drive past one of the many auto parking lots to see the stacked, hydraulically operated parking racks many of them use (see photo) and you understand that land here is very valuable. But there are no parking lots, free or otherwise, for charter or tour buses in Manhattan. The only option is the very limited, free on-street parking on the streets designated with the Bus Layover signs. Nearly all of them are on the west side of Manhattan.

On any given day, there are many more coaches in NYC than there are available parking spaces. That results in two issues, neither of them positive: 1) many coaches parked illegally; and 2) many coaches driving around, sometimes for hours, looking for legal parking, adding to NYC’s already very difficult traffic conditions.

Passengers love going to NYC on buses — they’re convenient, no driving or getting lost or expensive parking hassles for them. And the city wants, and needs, our passengers. But they send the wrong message by not providing adequate parking for buses. NYC has moved in the right direction recently, but more is needed.

Back to the signs … Why do drivers also hate those parking signs? It should be pretty obvious: “No Engine Idling — Max Fine $2000.” Now, drivers care about the environment as much as anyone else. Buses are the “greenest” way there is to move 50 people in one direction. They eliminate anywhere from 20 to 50 cars on one trip, meaning far less emissions being released into our environment.

But those buses are driven by human beings, who get very cold in the winter, very hot in the summer. No engine idling means no heat, no air conditioning. A few of the cities we frequent not only have adequate bus parking, but also provide drivers’ lounges for a reasonably comfortable place to wait while our passengers are doing their thing — Atlantic City, NJ and Williamsburg, VA, for instance, have adequate parking for buses, a drivers’ lounge, and in Atlantic City’s case, even a restaurant just for drivers.

So what do drivers do in NYC? Well, those signs are very effective in one way — no driver can afford a $2000 fine for idling, and few if any companies will pay for the driver’s actions for such fines. So drivers don’t idle — not in place, anyway. The only other option in the heat of summer or the bitter cold of winter is to drive around. That gets the bus cooled off or warmed up and keeps the driver comfortable. But compared to idling, it also greatly increases the amounts of pollutants being released into the environment, adds considerably to NYC’s traffic problems, stresses the drivers, and adds wear and tear on the motorcoaches. So you tell me: are those signs truly effective?

These are tough issues; there are no easy answers. Keeping the buses out of the city isn’t the answer; that could wreak economic chaos on an already challenged city. Adding more bus     parking will certainly help. But don’t put buses out in Timbuktu where there is nothing for the driver to do, nowhere for the driver to eat or stay warm or cool! We need parking where, ideally, we can also interact with our passengers, or at least somewhere where there is the capability of waiting comfortably for our passengers when it’s not comfortable or safe on a non-idling, non-running coach. I’ve always found it ironic that we can pass laws against leaving a dog or cat in a hot car in the summer, but there is no concern for the human beings stuck in a hot or cold bus for hours at a time.

What do you think? What solution would you propose? How do you stay comfortable in extreme weather? Add your comments below to this article.

(This article was written in its entirety while I was legally parked on 45th Street near 12th Avenue in New York City … and I was not idling, just in case you wondered. But I have to finish this for now — my fingers are getting too cold to type!)

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1. Aim high in steering.
   Look 15 seconds into your future. Don’t just watch the vehicle in front of you.
2. Get the big picture.
   Use the four second rule to avoid following too closely.
3. Keep your eyes moving.
   Avoid fixed stares.
4. Leave yourself an out.
   There’s no substitute for space.
5. Make sure they see you.
   Use eye contact, turn signals, lights, etc. to help ensure other drivers see you.

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