The National Transportation Safety Board is weighing in on the use of hands-free phones by drivers of large 18-wheelers. The NTSB says the use of hands-free phones can distract drivers and cause accidents on the highways. There is a current ban on the phones by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, but the NTSB believes further regulation is needed.
This type of driver distraction was illustrated in 2013 in Maryland, when a truck failed to hear an approaching train when crossing a railroad track. The driver was in the habit of listening for the sound of the train’s horn before crossing, but on that occasion a call came in on his hands-free phone. He could not hear the sound of the horn over the phone call, and crossed the track at the moment the train arrived. The was a resulting derailment and explosion from flammable materials on the train, causing a hazmat fire.
The issue is whether the use of any type of phone, radio or communication device is a safety hazard in large trucks, where a moment’s distraction can result in a catastrophic accident. The hands-free devices are popular due to the fact that a driver keeps both hands on the wheel while talking on the phone. Nonetheless, the in-cab speaker of the phone can pose a problem if a driver cant hear horns, sirens or emergency signals.
The prevalence of cell phones, texting and internet all create potential hazards on the highway. It is tempting to pass the long hours on the road in phone conversations or other electronic communication, but this habit can be perilous for the long distance trucker. It is all too easy to get caught up in a conversation, and lose concentration on the road and surrounding traffic.
In the incident in Maryland there were additional factors in the crash such as inadequate driver training, poor vehicle maintenance and the driver’s long hours behind the wheel. All of these elements contributed to the accident, which now has caught the attention of federal regulators.
If you or someone you know has been a victim of a large truck accident caused by cell phone use, you may have a case for recovery of damages. It is clearly negligent in the modern age to allow wireless phone conversations distract the driver of a multi-ton truck. The danger is multiplied if the truck is carrying hazardous material, and the driver’s attention is compromised by idle phone chatter. These types of cases are sure to increase as the intolerance for needless truck accidents rises across the nation.