FMCSA Proposes to Ban Handheld Cellphone Use While Driving a Commercial Motor Vehicle

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in the December 21, 2010 Federal Register which proposes to restrict the use of hand-held mobile telephones, including hand-held cell phones, by drivers of commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) while operating in interstate commerce. The Agency proposes new driver disqualification sanctions for interstate drivers of CMVs who fail to comply with this Federal restriction and new driver disqualification sanctions for commercial driver’s license (CDL) holders who have multiple convictions for violating a State or local law or ordinance on motor vehicle traffic control that restricts the use of handheld mobile telephones. Additionally, interstate motor carriers would be prohibited from requiring or allowing drivers of CMVs to engage in the use of a hand-held mobile telephone while operating in interstate commerce. The FMCSA contends that this rulemaking would improve safety on the Nation’s highways by reducing the prevalence of distracted driving-related crashes, fatalities, and injuries involving drivers of CMVs.

DATES: FMCSA will be accepting both initial comments and reply comments in response to this Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM). Send your initial comments on or before February 22, 2011 and reply comments on or before March 21, 2011.  Please see the attached Federal Register notice for additional information.