| Cell phone usage is a sign of the time. | | | | driver if he has an accident while talking on it, some |
| Remember when, if the MRO called to speak with a | | | | sensible rules and some education would be an option. |
| driver, you had to contact the driver on a radio, have | | | | How about this policy: |
| them pull off the road and call the MRO on a | | | | Drivers, please keep your cell phones on. |
| payphone? | | | | If your family members need to get in touch they |
| If that happened today, you would have to tell the | | | | can. If you want to speak with your family members |
| driver to pull the truck over and call the MRO on his | | | | occasionally, briefly, you can do that. |
| cell phone. (We wouldn't want THAT conversation to | | | | But don't talk for an extended period of time; it's a |
| happen while they are driving would we?) | | | | communications device, not a form of entertainment. |
| Distracted driving is an issue today -- no question, | | | | That's why you have a satellite radio. (All trucks do |
| there have been fatal accidents caused by drivers | | | | have satellite radios, don't they?) |
| who were talking on cell phones. So let's just write a | | | | When drivers put the AM/FM radio on a DVIR, I'm |
| policy statement that says NO CELL PHONES IN | | | | usually the first one to say "Don't gripe too much, I'll |
| TRUCKS. Problem solved right? - Hardly. | | | | put a delete plate there" but for the first time I am |
| Every driver, just like every teenager, has a cell | | | | thinking the AM/FM can be considered safety |
| phone in his/her pocket, some of them have two. | | | | equipment, if it keeps them off the cell phone. |
| (Why they do that, I don't know -- maybe in case | | | | We should train our drivers to make responsible |
| one breaks) and they talk or text constantly. As a | | | | decisions, like no extended conversations, turn it off |
| motor carrier you can SAY "Don't talk on your cell | | | | when you get in traffic, be aware of |
| phone when you are driving" but it is pretty hard to | | | | no-cell-phone-zones in your operating area, etc. |
| enforce. Use of a hands-free device apparently does | | | | But saying No to Cell Phones is like saying "Don't ever |
| NOT make cell phone calls any less of a distraction. | | | | exceed the speed limit." We can't enforce it and it |
| Maybe we need to give some thought to driver | | | | gives drivers another reason to think the carrier's |
| training and rule making. Instead of making a rule we | | | | rules don't matter. |
| cannot enforce (no cell phones) and blaming the | | | | Just my two cents worth. |