The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) now prohibits texting by drivers of commercial vehicles such as large trucks, buses and vans. Covered drivers who text while driving commercial vehicles may be subject to civil or criminal penalties of up to $2,750.
The DOT took this step, in part, based on research showing that drivers who send and receive text messages take their eyes off the road for an average of 4.6 seconds out of every 6 seconds while texting. At 55 miles per hour, this means that the driver is traveling the length of a football field, including the end zones, without looking at the road.
This prohibition is effective immediately, and employers should take the following steps to comply:
· Implement a policy
· Train and educate employees on the policy’s application
· Distribute the written policy to each employee
· Require each employee to sign an acknowledgment of the policy, stating that he or she received, read and agreed to comply with the policy
Management 2000, a Professional Employer Organization in Indiana, constantly monitors federal and state laws and regulations that affect employers. With this information, it can provide the human resources help employers need to manage and direct their workforce. Whether the issue is legal compliance, documentation and record retention, discipline, performance, or training, employers can count on Management 2000 for accurate, timely advice along with it's complete human resource information system.
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