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US DOT Announces Federal Ban on Texting for Commercial Truck Drivers
U.S Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood today announced federal guidance to expressly prohibit texting by drivers of commercial vehicles such as large trucks and buses. The prohibition is effective immediately and is the latest in a series of actions taken by the Department to combat distracted driving since the Secretary convened a national summit on the issue last September.
"We want the drivers of big rigs and buses and those who share the roads with them to be safe," said Secretary LaHood. "This is an important safety step and we will be taking more to eliminate the threat of distracted driving."
The action is the result of the Department's interpretation of standing rules. Truck and bus drivers who text while driving commercial vehicles may be subject to civil or criminal penalties of up to $2,750.
"Our regulations will help prevent unsafe activity within the cab," said Anne Ferro, Administrator for the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). "We want to make it crystal clear to operators and their employers that texting while driving is the type of unsafe activity that these regulations are intended to prohibit."
FMCSA research shows that drivers who send and receive text messages take their eyes off the road for an average of 4.6 seconds out of every 6 seconds while texting. At 55 miles per hour, this means that the driver is traveling the length of a football field, including the end zones, without looking at the road. Drivers who text while driving are more than 20 times more likely to get in an accident than non-distracted drivers. Because of the safety risks associated with the use of electronic devices while driving, FMCSA is also working on additional regulatory measures that will be announced in the coming months.
During the September 2009 Distracted Driving Summit, the Secretary announced the Department's plan to pursue this regulatory action, as well as rulemakings to reduce the risks posed by distracted driving. President Obama also signed an Executive Order directing federal employees not to engage in text messaging while driving government-owned vehicles or with government-owned equipment. Federal employees were required to comply with the ban starting on December 30, 2009.
The regulatory guidance on today's announcement will be on public display in the Federal Register January 26 and will appear in print in the Federal Register on January 27.
The public can follow the progress of the U.S. Department of Transportation in working to combat distracted driving www.distraction.gov.
Source: U.S. Department of Transportation
01/26/2010
Two Dozen Tow Trucks Honor Slain Darien Family in Funeral Procession
More than two dozen tow trucks gathered together Monday, March 8, to pay tribute to the deceased members of the Darien family who were recently murdered in their home, according to news reports.
Tow truck business owner Jeff Kramer, 50, his wife Lori Kramer, 48, and their son Michael Kramer, 20, were honored by hundreds of family, friends and tow truck workers at a service held for them at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church in Darien, reports state. After the ceremony, a funeral procession of tow trucks with blinking yellow lights followed the three silver-and-black hearses and the funeral procession into Mt. Auburn Cemetery in Stickney to show their respect for the fallen tow truck owner.
Many of the drivers said they did not personally know the Kramers, but thought it important to come out and show their support because of the very tight-knit relationship fellow tow truck operators pride themselves on having. This bonding comes from an understanding of the dangerous nature of the job.
Since the deaths, two men have been taken into custody. Jacob Nodarse, 23, is charged with first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder. Johnny Borizov, 28, who was locked in a bitter custody battle over his 13-month old son he has with Angela Kramer, 25, is also facing charges of first-degree murder, solicitation of murder and conspiracy to commit murder. According to news reports, authorities believe Nodarse was following the orders of Borizov and that Angela was the intended target.
03/09/2010
Proposed Washington Law May Allow Officials to Impound Vehicles of Suspected Drunk Drivers
The Towing and Recovery Association of Washington is lobbying for the adoption of a new law which could make it mandatory for officials to seize vehicles from drivers who are merely suspected – not convicted – of driving under the influence, according to a news report.
The legislation was passed unanimously by the State House last month and was considered by the Senate committee on March 1, the report states. The bill is called “Hailey’s Law,” or House Bill 2565, and will give Washington police the power to take any vehicle for at least 12 hours if the driver is suspected of driving under the influence. The vehicle may not be redeemed within the first 12-hour period following its impoundment at a tow truck operator’s facility, and there is no possibility of appeal, according to the report.
However, if the car happens to be registered to another person than the suspected driver, that owner may come and redeem the car without the 12-hour restriction period. But the owner must pay all impound and storage fees before they may recover their vehicle. According to the report, the bill states, “Any inconvenience on a registered owner is outweighed by the need to protect the public.”
The legislation must pass the full Senate and be signed by the governor to become law.
03/08/2010
California Tow Truck Driver Loses Leg While Helping Motorist
A tow truck driver in Gridley, California, was struck by a vehicle and lost his leg while trying to help a motorist Wednesday, March 4, according to a news repot.
David Lewis, 50, a driver with Sanchez Towing in Yuba City, stopped to assist a motorist who had run out of gas around 7 p.m., the report states. As he was standing near the left rear of the car, a gold 1989 Honda struck Lewis and the car. The Honda severed his right leg.
The stranded motorist was able to jump out of the way and was not hurt. The Honda driver also was not injured, according to the report. Lewis was transported to the hospital by ambulance.
03/05/2010
Three Members of Illinois Towing Family Murdered in Home
A Darien, Illinois towing family, including the father, mother and one son, were murdered in their home late in the morning of Tuesday, March 2, according to several news reports.
Jeffrey Kramer, 50, owner of Kramer’s Auto Repair & Towing, his wife, Lori Kramer, 48, and one of their sons, Michael Kramer, 20, were shot to death inside their home in what police are saying is a targeted act, appearing to target someone in the home, the reports states.
Officials say something crashed through the front window of the home around 3 a.m., prompting Jeffrey and Lori to rush down stairs. Both were then shot and killed. Michael was asleep on the couch in the living room, recovering from surgery. He also rushed to the front of the house, where he was shot and killed, according to reports.
Three other people were in the home at the time, including a daughter, Angela Kramer, 25, who hid in an upstairs closet and called 911. Another son, Anthony Kramer, 29, escaped through a basement window once officials arrived. Michael’s girlfriend was also in the house. She escaped by running out the back door to a neighbor’s house for help, the reports state.
No weapon was immediately found and no one is in custody yet. Officials are still trying to figure out who they are looking for, but say the act was not random. They are talking to the boyfriend of the family’s oldest daughter, although they say they’re talking to many acquaintances and looking into several possible scenarios, according to the reports. Michael’s girlfriend told officials there had allegedly been ongoing issues between Angela and her boyfriend.
03/04/2010
North Carolina Tow Truck Driver Hit by Pickup While Trying to Help Motorist
A Greensboro, North Carolina, tow truck driver was hit by a truck early in the morning Wednesday, March 3, according to a news report.
A motorist’s car that became stuck in a median after hitting an icy patch of road was struck by another car while the motorist was waiting for the tow truck driver to arrive on the scene, the report states. After that car became disabled too, another vehicle struck it as well. All the cars involved hit black ice on the ramp, causing the accidents.
After the tow truck driver arrived and was walking to the scene from his truck, he was struck by a pickup truck that also hit the ice and lost control. The tow truck driver tried to jump out of the way, but he was knocked down a 20-foot embankment in the process, according to the report.
He was taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries, and the road was reopened later that morning.
03/04/2010
