Companies Could Face Steep Fines Due to Workers’ Cell Usage
As a car accident attorney in Los Angeles, I’ve seen firsthand the dangers posed by using a cell phone while at the wheel of a car. And I’m not the only one. A number of states have enacted laws mandating that hands-free devices be used while behind the wheel. But some businesses are arguing that such measures are actually hurting their profit margins.
On January 3, 2012, it became illegal for drivers with a commercial license to use a hand-held cell phone while driving, as mandated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Violators face a steep fine of $2,750 and a possible disqualification from operation, but companies face even more dire prospects. Those businesses found violating the rules can be penalized up to $11,000.
The American Trucking Association has already gone on record as saying such a practice is unfair. Others have figured that insurance companies will use these violations as a new metric when determining a business’s premiums. Firms also worry that their businesses, some of which rely on the ability to communicate effectively with their driver as a way to relate relevant information, will be negatively impacted due to a lack of proper communication.
This might not be the case, however. The National Safety Council published the results of a survey which showed that, in 99% of cases, there was no sign of decreased productivity in businesses that banned their drivers from using cell phones. As a matter of fact, a few businesses even reported increased productivity.
Now that the measure has been put in place, businesses are going to have to start complying with the new rule or else face the consequences. As a Los Angeles car accident attorney, I think it’s important that companies err on the side of caution. Not only do they escape steep fines that way, but they won’t be held liable for distracted driving that might cause an accident.
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