FMCSA Distracted Driving Regulations: Cell Phone and Texting
FMCSA regulations (49 CFR Parts 390 and 392) prohibit CMV drivers from using hand-held mobile devices while driving. Specific prohibitions: holding a mobile device to make a call (voice or data); dialing with more than one button touch; texting, emailing, or using social media while moving; reading electronic messages. What is permitted: hands-free devices using Bluetooth or a single-touch activation (one button to answer/end a call); built-in communication systems operated with voice commands. Penalties: drivers caught violating cell phone regulations face civil penalties up to $2,750. Employers who require or allow drivers to use hand-held devices while driving face penalties up to $11,000. A driver who has two violations within 3 years loses their CDL for 60 days (first offense disqualification) or 120 days (second offense). Texting while driving a CMV is treated as a serious traffic violation — two serious traffic violations within 3 years result in 60-day CDL disqualification. Research context: FMCSA studies found that CMV drivers who text while driving are 23 times more likely to be involved in a safety-critical event (crash, near-crash, or unintentional lane departure) than non-distracted drivers. Reaching for a device creates 6 seconds of inattention at 55 mph — covering 495 feet (the length of 1.5 football fields) while effectively not looking at the road.