Push for Ban on Trucker Cellphones

The U.S. government should ban truckers from using cellphones while driving except in emergencies, transportation safety investigators said.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) recommendation came after it mostly blamed a fiery Kentucky crash last year that killed 11 people on the driver of a tractor trailer who was talking on his mobile phone.

“Distracted driving is becoming increasingly prevalent, exacerbating the danger we encounter daily on our roadways,” said Deborah Hersman, who chairs the safety board.

“It can be especially lethal when the distracted driver is at the wheel of a vehicle that weighs 40 tons and travels at highway speeds.”

Trucking groups said they support texting and cellphone bans but do not support any prohibition on the use of hands-free devices.

More than half of the 50 U.S. states ban texting while driving, while far fewer outlaw cellphone use.