Truck Drivers and Distracting Driving in Georgia

Let’s talk today about distracted driving by truck drivers. Two of the more common examples that have been in the news recently about distracted driving, it would be the use of either cellphones or texting while driving or the use, by the truck driver, of their onboard computer messaging system. Of course, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration guidelines prohibit the truck driver from texting while they are on the road.
The truck driver is also prohibited from using instant messaging or their computer on the road or accessing the internet if the device they are using requires that they push more than one button. The regulations also require truck drivers to use a hands-free cellphone while driving. The commercial driver’s license manuals which the drivers’ study also recommend that the drivers do not use their cellphones while driving.
If the truck driver was found to have been using their cellphone while driving, it may be evidence that such use contributed to the cause of the accident. Usually, trucking accident lawyers will go ahead and subpoena the cellphone records of the truck driver to determine whether the truck driver was either talking on the cellphone at the time of the accident or was texting at the time of the accident.
The issue of distracted driving in trucking cases is critical because the evidence actually shows, and all the statistics actually show, that if the truck driver is distracted for as little as one-half of a second, the number of truck crashes doubles. Many of the commercial driving manuals suggest that the cell phone should be held within reach, that the cell phone should not even be used until after the destination has been arrived at and that the cell phone should have pre-programmed numbers.
Now, this is in direct contradiction to the actual driving regulations which require that truck drivers use a hands-free cellphone. If you’ve been involved in a truck accident and you believe that the trucker was either distracted or was just not paying attention and you have a question in your mind is whether any of the federal regulations have, in fact, been violated, of course, you can call me at 770-792-1000 so that I can examine the case with you.