From Missouri Digital News: https://mdn.org

JEFFERSON CITY - Missouri's Highway Patrol warned Tuesday that truckers who text while driving could be stopped under a new federal ban next year.

"If we see someone talking on their cell phone that's in a commercial vehicle, they can be stopped for that violation," said  Missouri Highway Patrol Capt. Tim Hull.

Semi-truck and school bus drivers will be breaking the law if they reach for their cellphone while driving, under a federal law taking effect in January.

The ban prohibits drivers of commercial vehicles from using handheld or push-to-talk phones while their vehicles are on the highway, pulled over or temporarily stopped. The radios commonly used by truck drivers are exempt from the rule as well as calls that can be made with a single button or to emergency services.

"Distracted driving is an issue that the trucking industry is very concerned about," said Tim Crawford, president and CEO of the Missouri Trucking Association.

Drivers could face a fine of up to $2,700, and they could lose their license after more than two offenses. A driver's trucking company could face a penalty of up to $11,000 for a driver violation, Crawford said.

The Federal Motor Carrier Administration put the ban in place because of research showing that distracted driving is a safety risk, according to a news release.

The Missouri Department of Transportation reported that drivers are 23 percent more likely to be in an accident while using their cellphones; drivers using their cellphones caused 21 fatal accidents in 2010, Hull said.

"I think the trucking companies are seeing the same thing," Hull said. "That it's a liability for them to have their drivers distracted by anything because driving's a full-time job."

More state governments have been implementing cellphone bans in recent years; according to an article by CNN, 10 states currently ban all cellphone usage while driving.

"I would think that most companies and associations that are in support of highway safety are in favor of this ban," Crawford said.

Hull said the patrol will be strongly enforcing the ban with commercial vehicle drivers. Police will be able to pull commercial vehicle drivers over if they are seen on a handheld device.

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