Safety is a big issue for anyone in the Limo industry. Keeping current with regulations is as well.
The DOT puts together new regulations as they see the need for them. Because there is such a big issue with distracted driving and there are so many fatalities, there have been new guidelines put in place to address that. The guidelines are specifically for companies and drivers that use and operate commercial vehicles.
Who will be affected by these new rules?
- -Drivers with trucking companies.
- -Bus companies.
- -Drivers of vehicles that can hold 16 or more passengers.
- -Vehicles weighing more than 10,000 pounds.
- -Interstate transportation drivers with small vehicles.
Devices that are now prohibited for the above list of drivers:
- -Cellular telephones that are hand-held.
- -Telephones that must be pushed to be used for talking.
Devices that can be used with the new guidelines:
- -Cellular telephones that can be utilized hands free.
- -C.B. radios and other types of two way radios.
- -Any other types of hands free devices.
- -Mobile data terminals that are used with one touch.
There are some stiff penalties that have been put in place for those drivers and the companies that they work for, if a driver is caught breaking these rules. For those that are new to the business, such as CDL applicants, they could be facing disqualification from CDL licensure if they don’t adhere to the new rules.
Other Penalties:
- -a charge of $2,750.00 to the driver that is charged with one of these offenses.
- -a charge of $11,000.00 will be fined to any company that has a driver whom they allow to use a cellular phone that is not in compliance with new regulations.
- -If there is two or more major traffic violation while a prohibited device is being used, the CDL license can be suspended.
It has been estimated that these rules will affect greater than 4 million people that work as commercial drivers. It is important for both the driver and the company that employs the driver to understand how serious the implications are when using prohibited devices on the road. Distracted driving is a huge problem in our country and is responsible for many unnecessary accidents.
