According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), about 26,000 people died in crashes involving distracted drivers from 2012 to 2019. (Credit: kryzhov/Shutterstock.com) According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), about 26,000 people died in crashes involving distracted drivers from 2012 to 2019. (Credit: kryzhov/Shutterstock.com)

Using your phone while driving is dangerous and distracting for anyone, but the stakes are much higher when the driver is operating a tractor-trailer. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has rules that restrict the use of hand-held cellphone usage by commercial truck drivers, and violations are punishable by a fine of up to $2,750 for drivers and $11,000 for employers, but the risks go beyond the financial.

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Brittney Meredith-Miller

Brittney Meredith-Miller is assistant editor of PropertyCasualty360.com. She can be reached at [email protected].