Source: http://archive.regulationroom.org/texting/agencydocuments/nprm/index.html
Timestamp: 2018-04-23 09:18:05
Document Index: 22141971

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 383', '§ 383', 'art 383', '§ 392', '§ 391', 'art 391']

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by docket number FMCSA-2009-0370 using any one of the following methods:
MCSIA Motor Carrier Safety Improvement Act of 1999
Secretary LaHood stated: “Keeping Americans safe is without question the Federal government’s highest priority – and that includes safety on the road, as well as on mass transit and rail.” In addition, the Secretary pledged to work with Congress to ensure that the issue of distracted driving is appropriately addressed.
Several surveys show that there is public support for a texting prohibition. For example, a survey in December 2008 by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety determined that 94.1 percent of drivers consider it unacceptable for a driver to send text messages or e-mail while driving while 86.7 percent consider text messaging and emailing by drivers to be a very serious threat to their personal safety.[4] A CBS News/New York Times poll reported that 90 percent of Americans think texting behind the wheel should be outlawed. Over 94 percent of those who admit to texting or e-mailing while driving acknowledge that it makes them at least a little bit more likely to be involved in a crash.[5] Finally, a nationally representative survey by Nationwide Insurance,[6] conducted in August 2009, found that 80 percent of Americans support laws prohibiting text messaging or emailing while driving.
The importance of the distracted driving issue has led virtually all transit agencies to ban the use of cell phones and electronic devices or specifically to ban texting while operating a vehicle in passenger service. For example, the Chicago Transit Authority (CTAChicago Transit Authority) prohibits texting by employees and discharges offenders. Furthermore, several large transit agencies (Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, CTA, Greater Cleveland Region Transit Authority) have prohibited operators from carrying cell phones or other electronic devices in the cab, presumably eliminating texting.
Driver Distraction in Commercial Vehicle Operations (“the VTTI Virginia Tech Transportation Institute Study”) – Olson et al., 2009[14]
Under contract with FMCSA, the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTIVirginia Tech Transportation Institute) recently completed its “Driver Distraction in Commercial Vehicle Operations” study[15] and released the final report on October 1, 2009. The purpose of the study was to investigate the prevalence of driver distraction in CMV Commercial Motor Vehicle safety-critical events (i.e., crashes, near-crashes, lane departures, as explained in the VTTI Virginia Tech Transportation Institute study) recorded in a naturalistic data set that included over 200 truck drivers and 3 million miles of data. The dataset was obtained by placing monitoring instruments on vehicles and recording the behavior of drivers conducting real-world revenue-producing operations. Key findings were that drivers were engaged in tertiary (non-driving related) tasks in 71 percent of crashes, 46 percent of near-crashes, and 60 percent of all safety-critical events. Tasks that significantly increased risk included texting, looking at a map, writing on a notepad, or reading.
Task Odds Ratio Population Attributable Risk Percentage*
Complex Tertiary Task
Other – Complex (e.g., clean side mirror) 10.1 0.2
Other – Moderate (e.g, open medicine bottle) 5.9 0.3
Text Messaging During Simulated Driving — Drews, et al., 2009[17]
Driver Workload Effects of Cell Phone, Music Player, and Text Messaging Tasks with the Ford SYNC Voice Interface Versus Handheld Visual-Manual Interfaces (“The Ford Study”) — Shutko, et al., 2009[18]
A recent study by Ford Motor Company[19] involving 25 participants compared using a hands-free voice interface to complete a task while driving with using personal handheld devices (cell phone and music player) to complete the same task while driving. Of particular interest was the results of this study with regard to total eyes-off-road time when texting while driving. The study found that texting, both sending and reviewing a text, was extremely risky. The median total eyes-off-road time when reviewing a text message on a handheld cell phone while driving was 11 seconds. The median total eyes-off-road time when sending a text message using a handheld cell phone while driving was 20 seconds.
The purpose of this ongoing research is to conduct an analysis of naturalistic data collected by DriveCam over a 1-year period. Commercial trucks (3-axle and tractor-trailer) and buses will be the target vehicles in the analyses. This will provide FMCSA Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (the agency proposing the texting rule) with descriptive data on the adverse consequences of cell phone use and other distractions while driving, including texting. In addition, DriveCam will re-review all valid cell phone events within the last 90 days to determine the frequency of the following cell phone variables: dial cell phone, reach for cell phone, reach for Bluetooth/headset/earpiece, talk/listen on hands-free cell phone, talk/listen on hand-held cell phone, and text/email/surf web on cell phone. The results of these analyses will provide information on the scope of cell phone use, and other distractions, during valid safety events and crashes. FMCSA Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (the agency proposing the texting rule) will carefully review the applicability of any findings to the current proposed rule.
On October 7, 2008, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) published Emergency Order 26 (73 FR 58702). Pursuant to FRA’s authority under 49 U.S.C. 20102, 20103, the order, which took effect on October 1, 2008, restricts railroad operating employees from using distracting electronic and electrical devices while on duty. Among other things, the order prohibits both the use of cell phones and texting. FRA cited numerous examples of the adverse impact that electronic devices can have on safe operations. These examples included fatal accidents that involved operators who were distracted while texting or talking on a cell phone. In light of these incidents, FRA is imposing restrictions on the use of such electronic devices, both through its order and a rulemaking that seeks to codify the order.
Federal Prohibition Against Texting by Interstate CMV Commercial Motor Vehicle Drivers
FMCSA proposes to prohibit CMV Commercial Motor Vehicle drivers who are operating in interstate commerce from texting while driving. The Agency would include definitions and add a driver disqualification provision for interstate drivers convicted of violating the Federal rule.
Federal Disqualification Standard for CDL Commercial Driver’s License Drivers
FMCSA proposes that any CDL Commercial Driver’s License driver operating a CMV Commercial Motor Vehicle (as defined in § 383.5) who is convicted of violating a State prohibition against texting would be disqualified after his or her second conviction for the texting offense or any serious traffic violation (as defined by § 383.51(c)). The CDL Commercial Driver’s License disqualifying offense would be applicable to all persons who are required to possess a CDL, in accordance with the requirements of 49 CFR Code of Federal Regulations part 383, and who are subject to a State or local law or ordinance prohibiting texting. Therefore, the amendment to the CDL Commercial Driver’s License rules would be applicable to drivers employed by Federal, State, or local government agencies, transit authorities, and school districts.
Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program (MCSAPMotor Carrier Safety Assistance Program)
States that receive MCSAP Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program grant funds would be required, as a condition of receiving the grants, to adopt regulations on texting that are compatible with final regulations issued as a result of this rulemaking (49 U.S.C. 31102(a) and 49 CFR Code of Federal Regulations 350.201(a)). If a prohibition on texting (such as proposed in § 392.80) and the related disqualification (such as proposed in § 391.15(e)) are adopted by FMCSA, States under MCSAP Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program would have to adopt compatible regulations applicable to both interstate and intrastate transportation as soon as practicable, but not later than 3 years thereafter (49 CFR Code of Federal Regulations 350.331(d)). If States do not adopt compatible regulations prohibiting texting while driving a CMV Commercial Motor Vehicle and related disqualifications they may not receive full MCSAP Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program grant funding.
States that issue CDLs would be required to adopt and implement the proposed CDL Commercial Driver’s License disqualification provisions that require disqualification for two or more convictions of violating a State or local law or ordinance prohibiting texting while driving a CMV. States should be in compliance as soon as practicable, but not later than 3 years after FMCSA Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (the agency proposing the texting rule) adopts the disqualification provisions. If they do not comply, they may be subject to the loss of up to 5 percent in the first year of substantial non-compliance and up to 10 percent in subsequent years of certain Federal-aid highway amounts apportioned to the State (49 U.S.C. 31311(a) and 31314).
Increased Fuel Consumption (millions) $0.3
49 CFR Code of Federal Regulations Part 391
Alcohol abuse, Drug abuse, Drug testing, Highway safety, Motor carriers, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Safety, Transportation
Issued on: March 29, 2010