Comparison of a state cell phone law versus a fleet cell phone policy using naturalistic data

The current study used a naturalistic data set to assess the relationship between fleet cell phone policies and State cell phone laws and commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers use of a cell phone while driving. This research analyzed naturalistic data from commercial trucks (3-axel and tractor trailer/tanker) and buses (transit and motor coaches) over a one-year period. The data sets included 195 different truck and bus fleets comprising 13,431 trucks and buses. These 13,431 trucks and buses accounted for 230,912 safety-critical events and 211,177 non-events. The odds of a truck and bus driver using a cell phone while driving under a fleet cell phone policy were 0.83 times less, compared to no fleet cell phone policy. The data showed that a State cell phone law did not significantly impact truck and bus drivers? likelihood in using their cell phone while driving compared to a State that did not have a law prohibiting cell phone use. Moreover, CMV drivers were far more likely to obey a specific fleet cell phone policy than a State cell phone law. It may be premature to indicate that State cell phone laws are ineffective in reducing crashes; rather, the laws may be ineffective in dissuading truck and bus drivers from using cell phones while driving. This also suggests that State cell phone laws should be made more like fleet policies in terms of enforcement and consequences for violations, by having sufficient “teeth” (e.g., primary law, significant fine/points) that may impact driver compliance.