Feds ban texts by truckers, bus drivers

US Department of Transportation

Tuesday, January 26, 2010, 12:58pm CST

Feds ban texts by truckers, bus drivers

Austin Business Journal – by Mike Sunnucks

The U.S. Department of Transportation Tuesday banned commercial truck and bus drivers from texting while driving.

DOT Secretary Ray LaHood said violators could face fines of up to $2,750. He said the ban will help reduce accidents, citing studies that show drivers who are texting while driving 55 miles per hour have their eyes off the road for the length of a football field. Texting drivers are 20 times more likely to get in an accident than those not distracted while driving, according to DOT.