The Department of Transportation has ordered that commercial trucks and buses from text messaging while driving. There is no law on the books, this is a rule promulgated by presidential order which, for bus and truck drivers, is as good as a law.
Congress is also considering new rules to make even stiffer rules for texting while driving. The laws are largely symbolic. How can you tell if someone is texting, making a phone call, whatever. The Baltimore Sun recently reported that 25% of teen drivers told researched they sent text messages while driving. Almost half of all responders indicated they have driving in a car with someone who was texting while driving.
The new Maryland law that bans texting while driving has been on the books for about 5 months. I don't think there have been many prosecutions but hopefully the message is clear: you cannot text and drive.
Leave a comment