Limiting the Use of Wireless Communication Devices – Final Rule

Published September 27, 2010 in the Federal Register. Can be viewed online here.

I. Notice of Proposed Rulemaking

This document is the official announcement of the proposed texting rule and explains the agency’s reasoning. It also gives details about how the public can participate.

II. Text of Proposed Rule

The texting rule would amend several existing FMCSA Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (The agency proposing the EOBR Electronic on-Board Recorder (A device attached to commercial motor vehicles that tracks the number of hours drivers spend on the road) rule) regulations.  In this version, you can see the current language and the proposed additions.

III. Other Documents

The documents listed here are referred to in the NPRM.  Some are authored by FMCSA.  Others are from other individuals or groups.  All are part of the official rulemaking docket that you can see on Regulations.gov.

Draft Environmental Assessment – March 2010

FMCSA’s preliminary assessment that the texting rule would not have the kind of significant environmental impacts that require a full Environmental Impact Statement under the National Environmental Policy Act.

Preliminary Regulatory Evaluation – March 23, 2010

Analysis of probable costs and benefits of the texting rule, prepared by FMSCA to comply with Executive Order 12,866.

Driver Distraction in Commercial Vehicles Study- September 2009

Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTIVirginia Tech Transportation Institute) study funded by FMCSA Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (The agency proposing the EOBR Electronic on-Board Recorder (A device attached to commercial motor vehicles that tracks the number of hours drivers spend on the road) rule) to investiage driver distration in commercial motor vehicle Any vehicle owned or used by a business drivers. Naturalistic, in-the-field study of safety impacts of various driving distractions on CMV Commercial Motor Vechicles operators.  Primary data for  FMCSA’s conclusion that texting is a particularly dangerous distraction.

Developing A National Agenda for Motor Carrier Safety, March 27, 2009

Report from Motor Carrier Safety Advisory Committee (MSCAC) which tasked a work group of experts from industry, law enforcement and safety advocacy groups to identify top safety challenges that FMCSA Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (The agency proposing the EOBR Electronic on-Board Recorder (A device attached to commercial motor vehicles that tracks the number of hours drivers spend on the road) rule) should focus on to make significant advances in motor carrier A person providing motor vehicle transportation for compensation. The term includes a motor carrier’s agents, officers and employees safety and potential strategies to respond to those challenges. Final recommendations urged FMCSA Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (The agency proposing the EOBR Electronic on-Board Recorder (A device attached to commercial motor vehicles that tracks the number of hours drivers spend on the road) rule) to adopt a rule against texting. Report begins with a letter to Rose A. McMurray from David R. Parker, Chair, MCSAC.

Driver Workload Effects of Cell Phone, Music Player, and Text Messaging Tasks with the Sync-Voice Interface versus the Devices’ Handheld Visual-Manual Interfaces

Study conducted by SAE International (Shutko, et al.) published April 2009. A fixed-base driving simulator study was conducted to compare driver performance and eye glance behavior effects of tasks performed using the voice interface in Ford Motor Company’s SYNC® system versus handheld operation of portable music players and cellular phones. Findings included that median total eyes-off-the-road time was 11 seconds for reading a text with a handheld cell phone, and 20 seconds for sending a text.

Effect of Text Messaging on Driver Behavior: A Simulator Study

Published project report from the Transport Research Laboratory (Reed & Robbins) September 2008. Prepared for RAC Foundation, Texting Whilst Driving Project. Aim of study was to assess the impact of text messaging on driver performance, and the attitudes and beliefs that surrounded the activity in the 17-25 age category. Findings included that texting was associated with increased stopping distance of three car lengths.

Effects of Text Messaging on Young Novice Driver Performance

Report from Monash University, Accident Research Center (Hosking, et al.), published February 2006. Sponsored by The National Roads and Motorists’ Association (NRMA) Motoring and Services and NRMA Insurance. Project evaluated the effects of text messaging on the driving performance of young novice drivers, using an advance driving simulator. Findings included several unsafe driving behaviors associated with texting, including difficulty remaining in lane and in detecting hazards and responding to safety signs.

Teens and Distracted Driving

Pew Research Center Report, by Madden & Lenhart, published  November 16, 2009. The report looked at teems, mobile phones and distracted driving. Findings included that one in four (26%) of American teens of driving age say they have texted while driving, and half (48%) of all teens ages 12 to 17 say they’ve been a passenger while a driver has texted behind the wheel.

Text Messaging During Simulated Driving

Research article by Drews, et al. University of Utah, Salt Lake City. Originally published online Dec 16, 2009 in Human Factors: The Journal of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society. The online version of this article can be found at: http://hfs.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/51/5/762