Texting While Driving a Truck Increases Crash Risk by 23 Times

October 14, 2009

A recent study focused on semi-truck drivers, noting an increase of 23 times in accident probability for truckers who texted on the road.

October 14, 2009 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Texting While Driving a Truck Increases Crash Risk by 23 Times

Article provided by Injury Law Center - Law Offices of Jack Bloxham
Visit us at http://www.jackbloxham.com

On July 29, the "ALERT Drivers Act" was introduced into Congress. The bill is meant to finally deliver a national verdict on the issue of texting behind the wheel. Many states, including California, have already passed handheld bans. Many more states have statutes in place regarding cell phone use on the road.

The bill in Congress would enact a nationwide ban on texting only, punishing noncompliant states by withholding a certain percentage of highway funding. The bill was introduced following a study by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, which showed that drivers who texted while driving were much likelier to be in an accident than those who did not.

The study focused on semi-truck drivers, noting an increase of 23 times in accident probability for truckers who texted on the road. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), large trucks made up 8 percent of all vehicles involved in fatal accidents in 2008. Almost 75 percent of large trucks involved in fatal accidents collided with other vehicles while making a delivery.

Facing scrutiny, truck drivers have a different perspective on the matter. In addition to personal phones or mobile devices, most truckers have computers in their cabs -- which they use to check routes, delivery times, receive directions and stay in touch with dispatchers. Although they argue that the computers should not be included in the ban, truckers using such computers were found to be at 10 times the risk of being involved in a crash.

It is important to keep in mind the size ratio of a semi truck to the average vehicle on the road. Accidents involving semi trucks often have devastating and fatal consequences. Whether the ALERT Drivers Act passes in Congress, and whether the ban includes truckers' computers as well as cell phones, remains to be seen.

Article provided by Injury Law Center - Law Offices of Jack Bloxham
Visit us at http://www.jackbloxham.com

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