The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) wants to extend the prohibition on texting with electronic devices to intrastate drivers operating motor vehicles containing any hazardous material requiring placarding under part 172 of the 49 CFR or any quantity of a select agent or toxin listed in 42 CFR part 73.
Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood proudly announced the proposed ban on texting by intrastate hazmat drivers during the second National Distracted Summit held September 21 in Washington DC. For some reason, the Department of Transportation failed to include these drivers in the initial texting ban.
Comments on the proposed rule must be received at PHMSA by October 27. Comments can be submitted at the federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov.