Ask most any driver on the road about the dangers of texting or talking while driving, and you are likely to get a common answer: 'It's dangerous, but many of us do it anyway.'
But starting January 3, 2012, commercial drivers will no longer be allowed to legally use their cell phone, without a hands-free device.
Truck drivers we talked to on Thursday say the U.S. Department of Transportation's new rule change is a good idea.
"I think it's a good safety feature myself. From what I have seen out here on the highway, I think it's a whole lot better," said trucker Carl Hall. "It don't distract you if you put the headset on."
But Hall believes banning phones all together is simply out of the question.
"A cell phone is a safety factor out here, especially with accidents and drunk drivers. What they are doing now, they outta stop right there really," Hall said.
Another driver we spoke to, Mike Kocher, goes even further, saying the new rule should apply to everyone.
"People need to stay off their phones. I'm not sure if it goes for the cars, but it needs to be for everyone. Not just us in the trucks," said Kocher.
The NTSB wantseda complete ban cell phones by all commercial drivers, following a 2010 crash in Munfordville, Kentucky, where a truck driver struck a 15 passenger van, killing 11 people. Investigators found the truck driver had received multiple texts leading up to the crash.
Even though the requirement that goes into effect in the next few days stops short of a total ban, Kocher believes it's a step in the right direction.
"We drive a lot of miles and see and you see a lot of people do a lot of stupid things. I'd like to see everybody not be able to do it," Kocher said.
Only time will tell if and when the ban will go from those driving 18 wheels, to those of us driving only four.
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