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A new development was announced today in the ever-growing discussion of cell phone use and driving. The U.S. Transportation Secretary said that effective immediately, the drivers of commercial trucks and buses are banned from texting behind the wheel.

Here's how the Department of Transportation defines a commercial motor vehicle (CMV):

• Any vehicle that weighs 10,001 pounds or more
• Any vehicle that is transporting hazardous materials
• Any vehicle designed or used to carry 9 or more people, including the driver, for compensation
• Any vehicle designed or used to carry 16 or more people, including the driver, not for compensation

If people driving a CMV don't refrain from texting while driving, they could face civil or criminal penalties up to $2,750.

Our law firm has a tremendous amount of respect for truckers – we know how hard the work is and how long the hours are. We also know how important it is for all drivers, not just truckers, to follow the rules of the road. This means obeying every law – from speeding to passing to texting – to keep everyone as safe as possible. No text message is worth the lives that distracted driving can claim.

I encourage you to check my law firm's complete list of state-by-state cell phone and driving laws. I also urge to be extremely careful on the roads – keep in mind that even if your state doesn't ban cell phone use behind the wheel, going above and beyond the guidelines of the law is always a safe bet.