Kentucky Truck Driver Kills 10 Others While Talking on Cell Phone

photo credit: Truck Driving Cell Phone

Kentucky State Police (KSP) has cited cell phone usage and excessive speed as causes of the crash that killed 11 people in March near Munfordville, Kentucky. However, the NTSB (National Transportation Safety Board), which is conducting the investigation, says it is yet to be determined if the truck driver, Kenneth Laymon of Jasper, AL was on his cell phone at the time of the accident.

Kentucky Truck Driver Kills 10 Others While Talking on Cell Phone

The KSP has reports that Laymon was driving in excess of 80 mph, well over the 70 MPH posted speed limit. Even 70 mph seems to me to be an excessive speed for a fully loaded truck. After all, the heavier the load, the longer it takes to stop. (A fully loaded tractor trailer going just 55 mph takes 400 feet to stop.) Talking on a cell phone without a hands free device while driving means that Laymon was driving that speed one handed!

Driving while talking has been a major concern for quite some time. See my blog “1.4 Million Car Accidents Per Year Directly Related to Talking on Cell Phones.” President Obama is actively seeking a solution to cell phone distraction. With all the publicity and laws being passed to make talking on cells phones while driving illegal, the problem continues to grow. Got any ideas on how we can reverse this trend?

We will probably never know exactly what happened. Truck driver Kenneth Laymon, age 45, died in the crash as well. I have problems mustering up any sympathy for old Kenneth, but my heart goes out to his victims and their families.