26.604
Policy
Contractors and subcontractors must be encouraged to ban text messaging while driving any vehicle for government business to promote safety and compliance.
Overview
FAR 26.604 establishes the policy that federal agencies must encourage contractors and subcontractors to implement and enforce bans on text messaging while driving. This applies to any situation where a contractor or subcontractor is operating a company-owned, rented, or government-owned vehicle, as well as privately-owned vehicles when used for official government business or work performed on behalf of the government. The intent is to promote safety and reduce distracted driving incidents among those performing government contracts.
Key Rules
- Ban on Text Messaging While Driving
- Contractors and subcontractors should have policies prohibiting text messaging while driving vehicles used for government business or contract performance.
- Scope of Vehicles Covered
- The policy applies to company-owned, rented, government-owned, and privately-owned vehicles when used for official government purposes.
Responsibilities
- Contracting Officers: Must encourage contractors and subcontractors to adopt and enforce text messaging bans while driving for government work.
- Contractors: Should develop, implement, and enforce policies that prohibit text messaging while driving in the specified circumstances.
- Agencies: Responsible for promoting and supporting these safety policies among their contractors and subcontractors.
Practical Implications
- This policy aims to enhance safety and reduce liability by minimizing distracted driving among those performing government work.
- Contractors should ensure their internal policies are updated and communicated to all employees and subcontractors.
- Failure to adopt such policies could impact contractor eligibility or performance evaluations in some cases.