Starting Tuesday, truck and bus drivers are banned from sending text messages while operating commercial vehicles.
The prohibition applies to drivers of interstate buses and trucks over 10,000 pounds. Violators may be subject to civil or criminal penalties of up to $2,750.

Research found that that drivers who text behind the wheel 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! A lot can happen in a matter of seconds!

Some government officials have been listening:

• Nineteen states and the District of Columbia already prohibit all drivers from texting behind the wheel.
• Another 10 states restrict texting by novice drivers.
• President Barack Obama signed an executive order directing federal employees not to engage in text messaging while driving government-owned vehicles or with government-owned equipment.

But is this enough or do we need a national ban? Nearly 6,000 people were killed and a half-million (that’s more than 500,000!) were injured last year in vehicle crashes connected to driver distraction, often by mobile devices and cell phones. Researchers have even said that texting behind the wheel is more dangerous than driving under the influence of alcohol or marijuana!

What can you do?

• Lobby your congressman to pass a national ban!
• Organize an awareness campaign around the dangers of texting while driving.