FMCSA to hold three-day meeting on distracted driving

Last week when Dave Osiecki spoke at the Arkansas Trucking Association meeting in Little Rock, he said there would be a third rule dealing with in-cab technology following the texting ban and cell phone use while driving ban.

The Trucker Staff

5/27/2010

FMCSA announced May 25 that its Motor Carrier Safety Advisory Committee (MCSAC) will hold a three-day committee meeting concerning distracted driving by commercial motor vehicle (CMV) operators, from June 8 - June 10.

This meeting is open to the public.

The meeting will be held on the following dates: Tuesday, June 8, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Wednesday, June 9, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; and Thursday, June 10, 2010, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Eastern Standard Time at the Hilton Alexandria Old Town, Washington and Jefferson Rooms, 2nd Floor, 1767 King Street, Alexandria, Va., 22314

FMCSA will request that MCSAC provide information, concepts, and ideas on ways to prevent distracted driving by commercial motor vehicle operators, with a particular emphasis on in-cab technologies and activities.

Last week when Dave Osiecki spoke at the Arkansas Trucking Association meeting in Little Rock, he said there would be a third rule dealing with in-cab technology following the texting ban and cell phone use while driving ban.

This task will assist FMCSA in identifying options for addressing driver distraction associated with certain in-cab technologies. This activity is separate from FMCSA's current rulemaking concerning texting and the Agency's forthcoming rulemaking concerning the use of wireless telephones.

In addition, FMCSA will seek information, and ideas for consideration in updating the Agency's strategic plan.

For more information, contact Shannon L. Watson, Senior

Management Analyst, Strategic Planning and Program Evaluation Division,

Office of Policy Plans and Regulation, FMCSA at (202) 385-2395, or e-mail

mcsac@dot.gov.

Comments from the public will be heard orally during the last hour of each day's meeting. To be assured of timely consideration, interested parties may submit written comments on the subject topic by Wednesday, June 2, to the Federal Docket Management System (FDMS) in Docket Number FMCSA-2010-0143 using any of the following methods:

Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting comments.

Fax: 202-493-2251.

Mail: Docket Management Facility; U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., West Building, Room WI2-140, Washington, DC 20590.

Barb Kampbell of The Trucker staff can be reached for comment at barbkampbell@thetrucker.com.

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