Missouri highway workers barred from texting and driving
The Missouri Department of Transportation has officially banned employees from sending text messages while driving MoDOT vehicles or while on the clock in their own vehicles.
The new policy is designed to reduce the number of large truck accidents in Missouri. It comes on the heels of a recent statewide law that bans all drivers under 21 from texting and driving.
As we’ve discussed previously here on the blog, distractions for drivers are a major cause of serious truck and tractor trailer accidents. Texting drivers are 23 times more likely to cause an accident than a focused driver. This rule change by MoDOT is a step in the right direction.
The policy won’t be enough on its own, though, to significantly cut down on accidents here in Missouri. Private trucking companies and their drivers also need to be held accountable when they cause a serious accident because a text message or cell phone caused a distraction. If you have been involved in an accident of this type, contact a Missouri trucking accident lawyer to discuss your case.
