Distracted Driving in Commercial Vehicles and Buses: Research and Analyses

Promoting safe operation of commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) and reducing the number and severity of crashes on U.S. roadways is critical to the mission of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). Research on distracted driving has increased over the past several years, due, in part, to the increasing number of reported crashes involving cellular telephone (cell phone) use while driving, recent literature reviews that highlighted some key findings and a study that described the magnitude of the problem in light (passenger) vehicles. There is a knowledge gap regarding the operation of trucks (three-axle or more trucks and tractor trailers/tankers) and buses (including transit and motor coaches, but referred to as "buses" hereafter) in regards to distracted driving and, more specifically, cell phone use and tenting while driving. The aim of this book is to use existing data to document the prevalence of distractions while driving a commercial motor vehicle.