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LaHood: Texting Ban Extended to Drivers of Big Rigs and Charter Buses
Commercial drivers are now prohibited from text-messaging while behind the wheel.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood recently announced he's imposing a new guideline carrying a $2,750 fine for bus or truck drivers who text-message when they're driving.

The former Peoria Congressman says seat belt and drunken driving laws came to be effective, and this new guideline will too.

"We're at the starting gate on this," LaHood said. "We're going to figure out ways to enforce these requirements that you cannot text and drive, and you can't do it safely."

LaHood says he knows enforcement might be difficult at first, but the anti-distracted driving movement is gaining momentum. He says campaigns for seat belt usage and against drunken driving have been successful, and he thinks the anti-distracted driving fight will join this initiative as well.

LaHood says drivers have a personal responsibility to put away their cell phones when they get in a truck, train, plane or other commercial vehicles because peoples' lives are at stake.

Non-commercial drivers in many states, including Illinois, are prohibited from sending text messages while they're behind the wheel of a moving vehicle.
02 01 10 by Newsroom
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