Advisory committee submits final report on in-cab distractions

All aspects of distracted driving should be addressed to reduce crashes and fatalities on the road, members of the Motor Carrier Safety Advisory Committee said in a report released Aug. 30.

The final report (.pdf file) was submitted to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration for addressing in-cab distractions other than texting and cell phone use by commercial motor vehicle drivers engaged in interstate commerce. It recommended 24 strategies, including:

• Conduct an assessment of existing research to develop standards for installing or modifying in-cab technologies that may cause distracted driving.
• Assess the enforcement component of preventing distracted driving, and recommend practical enforcement strategies to discourage and eliminate distracted CMV driving.
• Undertake CMV driver education initiatives.
• Work with industry and academia to improve standards in data collection to enable analysis and to include precise definitions.
• Work with other transportation administrations and the Department of Transportation Safety Council to address safety issues found in passenger vehicles.

The committee is scheduled to meet in December to submit a final report on how fleets can develop a practical fatigue management program.