Texting is Now Illegal for Truck and Bus Drivers | Seattle Car Accident Lawyer

Blog Categories:

Texting while driving is a serious problem. Countless car accidents and injuries ranging from mild to severe occur as a result of texting while driving. This is true in Seattle, in all of Washington State, and throughout the country. What is one way to cut down on car accident and trunk accident injuries? How about banning commercial truck drivers from texting. The thought is that this will lower the rates of truck accidents. According to a report from CNN, drivers of buses and commercial trucks are now banned from texting under Federal guidelines. U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said “This is an important safety step, and we will be taking more to eliminate the threat of distracted driving.” According to the Department of Transportation, these drivers can now face civil or criminal penalties of up to $2750.

LaHood was influential in forming the advocacy group FocusDriven. While it is now illegal for truck and bus drivers, texting while driving could soon be illegal for everyone. The CNN article states that ‘nineteen states, plus the District of Columbia and Guam, have passed laws banning texting while driving. Six states, plus the District of Columbia and the Virgin Islands, ban the use of handheld devices while driving.’ Hopefully more will follow.

Straight Talk Law has been emphasizing the importance of refraining from texting while driving for some time now. In the coming weeks we will be launching and focusing on a campaign that we hope can help put an end to the dangerous habit. In the meantime, please, please do not text while you are behind the wheel of your car.

This information is provided by www.straighttalklaw.com, where you can order free books on Washington auto accidents, auto insurance, and other valuable legal information, offered as a public service by Jason Epstein and his law practice Premier Law Group in Seattle, Washington.