Category: Lifestyle

Mobile phone use while driving is common, but dangerous. Due to the number of accidents that are related to cell phone use while driving, some jurisdictions have made the use of a cell phone while driving illegal. Others have enacted laws to ban handheld mobile phone use, but allow use of a handsfree device. In some cases restrictions are only directed to minors or those who are newly qualified license holders.

Maine Gov. Paul LePage signed a new law that prohibits texting while driving. The law makes Maine the 33rd state to prohibit texting behind the wheel. Under the new law, which takes effect in September, violators will face a minimum fine of $100.

With the addition of Maine, 33 states, the District of Columbia, and Guam have now banned text messaging by all drivers. Eight states, the District of Columbia and the Virgin Islands have prohibited all hand-held cell phone use while driving.

In 2009, the U.S. Department of Transportation launched a national anti-distracted driving campaign.

Reinforce safety by placing a policy in your employee handbook. When you hand out cell phones or company cars, make employees acknowledge they understand the rules by having them sign a copy of your no-texting policy. Accidents involving a driver being distracted by talking on a mobile phone have begun to be prosecuted as negligence similar to speeding.

Truck and bus safety inspectors will be on the road night and day during the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s 72-hour International Roadcheck on June 7-9, checking vehicles and their drivers at inspection sites along major highways across North America.

In addition, roving patrols will inspect vehicles and drivers traveling other roadways.

Since its inception in 1988, the roadside inspections conducted during the annual Roadcheck have numbered more than one million. It also has provided for the distribution of educational literature and safety events to educate industry and the general public about the importance of safe commercial vehicle operations and the roadside inspection program.

With the recent increased attention on driver hours of service and electronic onboard recorders, this year’s Roadcheck will emphasize checking driver logbooks and underscore to drivers the importance of maintaining their logbooks, taking breaks, preventing fatigue, and driving without distractions. Also, Roadcheck 2011 will include added emphasis on finding carriers of household goods who may be operating under the radar by using improperly marked rental vehicles and/or operating as a property carrier rather than a HHG carrier.

Texting while driving is the act of composing, sending, or reading text messages, email, or making other similar use of the internet on a mobile device, while operating a motor vehicle such as an automobile, truck or train.

The practice of texting while driving has been viewed by many people and authorities as dangerous. It has also been ruled as the cause of some motor vehicle accidents, and in some places has been outlawed or restricted

Indiana becomes the 32nd state to prohibit texting while driving after Gov. Mitch Daniels signed a new law.

Effective July 1, violators face a maximum fine of $500. The law extends Indiana’s current texting ban to all drivers. Drivers under 18 are also prohibited from all cell phone use.

With the addition of Indiana, 32 states, the District of Columbia and Guam ban text messaging by all drivers. Further, eight states, the District of Columbia and the Virgin Islands have prohibited all hand-held cell phone use while driving.

Diesel-powered cars generally have a better fuel economy than equivalent gasoline engines and produce less greenhouse gas emission. Their greater economy is due to the higher energy per-liter content of diesel fuel and the intrinsic efficiency of the diesel engine.

The national average retail price of diesel fell 2 cents during the week ended May 9, according to the U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy Information Administration. The national average price declined to $4.104 but is still 97.7 cents higher than a year earlier.

All regions dipped in price, except for the Rocky Mountain area that reported the same average price as the previous week. The Gulf Coast, after jumping in price the previous week, fell 3.8 cents to $4.022 to remain the cheapest region. The Central Atlantic slid 2.1 cents to $4.248 as did the West Coast to $4.307. California dipped 0.6-cent to $4.459, the nation’s highest.
The record diesel price was $4.764 in July 2008.
For diesel price information, click here.