ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. - In the interest of making Aberdeen Proving Ground a safe place for all drivers and pedestrians, the Director of Emergency Services shared his thoughts on the following laws and regulations. Chris Ferris, who assumed the DES leadership in June, said he is concerned that too many drivers on APG are not familiar with state and installation laws concerning driver distractions involving cell phone use and texting.
Ferris said that the first thing drivers new to APG should realize is that talking on a hand-held cell phone while driving is prohibited on the installation and it is banned in 10 states including Maryland. "Restrictions on cell phone use don't stop there," Ferris said. "They even address inexperienced or novice drivers as well as school bus drivers."
The use of all cell phones by novice drivers is restricted in 32 states and the District of Columbia and the use of all cell phones while driving a school bus is prohibited in 19 states and the District of Columbia.
In addition, text messaging while driving is banned in 39 states and the District of Columbia and novice drivers are banned from texting in several states.
Government restrictions
Statistics show that distracted driving is the cause of more and more accidents, Ferris said.
"Anything that takes your attention from the road, whether it's your kids arguing your spilled coffee, is a distraction that could cause anything from a fender-bender to an accident with serious injuries or even a fatality," Ferris said. "Statistics don't lie. That's why these laws are in place."
Cell Phone use while driving
Army Regulation 385-10
Vehicle operators on a DOD installation and operators of government-owned vehicles shall not use cell phones unless the vehicle is safely parked or unless they are using a hands-free device. The wearing of any other portable headphones, earphones, or other listening devices (except for hands-free cellular phones) while operating a motor vehicle is prohibited. Use of those devices impairs driving and masks or prevents recognition of emergency signals, alarms, announcements, the approach of vehicles and human speech. DOD Component safety guidance should note the potential for driver distractions such as eating and drinking, operating radios, CD players, global positioning equipment, etc. Whenever possible this should only be done when the vehicle is safely parked. Violators will be issued a CVB that carries a fine of $45 plus court costs.
Social Sharing