Distracted driving, most readers know, is a major problem on our roadways. According to distraction.gov, over 3,300 people were killed in distracted driving accidents in 2011 and 2012, and an estimated 387,000 were injured in 2011. Distracted driving is a problem not only among ordinary motorists, but also among commercial vehicle operators.

Every so often, a headline pops up about a distracted trucker or bus driver who causes a major accident. Last year, just such an accident occurred out in Maryland when a truck driver failed to ensure a railroad crossing was clear before going through it. As a result, he crashed his vehicle into an oncoming train, causing it to derail and explode. 

A National Transportation Safety Board report which investigated the accident noted that one of the causes of the crash was that the trucker was in the middle of a conversation on a cell phone. Although the device was hands-free, the trucker failed to make sure it was safe to proceed as he approached the railroad track.

That major distraction can still take place among drivers who use hands-free communications devices is no secret. Distraction.gov talks about cognitive distraction as being one of the primary forms of distracted driving, and sticking to hands-free cell phone use while driving don’t fully address this form of distraction. Because of this, the NTSB is recommending that truck safety could be improved by prohibiting commercial vehicle operators from using hands-free devices while behind the wheel.

Those who are seriously harmed in a truck accident have the right to be compensated for their injuries by those who are at fault. Working with an experienced attorney can help ensure one puts together the best possible personal injury case.

Source: Truckinginfo.com, “NTSB to FMSCA: Ban Hands-Free Phone Use,” Oliver Patton, October 22, 2014.