2022 Michigan Commercial Driver License Manual – 2005 CDL Testing System
40 Section 2 – Driving Safely
Possible distractions that could occur outside a moving
vehicle: outside traffic, vehicles or pedestrians; outside
events such as police pulling someone over or a crash
scene; sunlight/sunset; objects in roadway; road
construction; reading billboards or other road
advertisements; and many others.
2.9.1 – The Distracted Driving Crash Problem
The Large Truck Crash Causation Study (LTCCS)
reported that 8 percent of large-truck crashes occurred
when Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV) drivers were
externally distracted and 2 percent of large truck crashes
occurred when the driver was internally distracted.
Approximately 5,500 people are killed each year on U.S.
roadways and an estimated 448,000 are injured in motor
vehicle crashes involving distracted driving (NHTSA Traffic
Safety Facts: Distracted Driving).
Research indicates that the burden of talking on a cell
phone - even if it's hands-free - saps the brain of 39% of
the energy it would ordinarily devote to safe driving.
Drivers who use a hand-held device are more likely to get
into a crash serious enough to cause injury. (NHTSA
distracted driving website at distraction.gov).
2.9.2 – Effects of Distracted Driving
Effects of distracted driving include slowed perception,
which may cause you to be delayed in perceiving or
completely fail to perceive an important traffic event;
delayed decision making and improper action, which can
cause you to be delayed in taking the proper action or
make incorrect inputs to the steering, accelerator or
brakes.
2.9.3 – Types of Distractions
There are many causes of distraction, all with the potential
to increase risk.
✓ Physical distraction – one that causes you to take your
hands off the wheel or eyes off the road, such as
reaching for an object.
✓ Mental distraction – activities that take your mind away
from the road, such as engaging in conversation with a
passenger or thinking about something that happened
during the day.
✓ Both physical and mental distraction – even greater
chance a crash could happen, such as talking on a cell
phone; or sending or reading text messages.
2.9.4 – Cell/Mobile Phones
49 CFR Part 383, 384, 390, 391 and 392 of the Federal
Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) and the
Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR) restricts the use
of hand-held mobile telephones by drivers of commercial
motor vehicles (CMVs); and implements new driver
disqualification sanctions for drivers of CMVs who fail to
comply with this Federal restriction; or who have multiple
convictions for violating a State or local law or ordinance
on motor vehicle traffic control that restricts the use of
hand-held mobile telephones. Additionally, motor carriers
are prohibited from requiring or allowing drivers of CMVs
to use hand-held mobile telephones.
The use of hand-held mobile telephones means, ‘‘using at
least one hand to hold a mobile telephone to conduct a
voice communication; “dialing a mobile telephone by
pressing more than a single button”; or “moving from a
seated driving position while restrained by a seat belt to
reach for a mobile telephone”. If you choose to use a
mobile phone while operating a CMV, you may only use a
hands-free mobile phone that is located close to you and
that can be operated in compliance with the rule to
conduct a voice communication.
Your CDL will be disqualified after two or more convictions
of any state law on hand-held mobile telephone use while
operating a CMV. Disqualification is 60 days for the
second offense within 3 years and 120 days for three or
more offenses within 3 years. In addition, the first and
each subsequent violation of such a prohibition are subject
to civil penalties imposed on such drivers, in an amount up
to $2,750. Motor carriers must not allow nor require drivers
to use a hand-held mobile telephone while driving.
Employers may also be subject to civil penalties in an
amount up to $11,000. There is an emergency exception
that allows you to use your hand-held mobile telephones if
necessary to communicate with law enforcement officials
or other emergency services.
Research shows that the odds of being involved in a
safety-critical event (e.g., crash, near-crash, unintentional
lane deviation) is 6 times greater for CMV drivers who
engage in dialing a mobile telephone while driving than for
those who do not. Dialing drivers took their eyes off the
forward roadway for an average of 3.8 seconds. At 55 mph
(or 80.7 feet per second), this equates to a driver traveling
306 feet, the approximate length of a football field, without
looking at the roadway.
Your primary responsibility is to operate a motor vehicle
safely. To do this, you must focus your full attention on the
driving task.
Note that hands-free devices are no less likely than hand-
held cell phones to cause you to become distracted.
Attention is diverted from the driving task while using either
device.
2.9.5 –Texting
49 CFR Part 383, 384, 390, 391, 392, the Federal Motor
Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR) prohibits texting by
commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers while operating in
interstate commerce; and implements new driver
disqualification sanctions for drivers of CMVs who fail to
comply with this Federal prohibition; or who have multiple