Drivers of semis and big rigs face tougher new cell phone laws beginning tomorrow. Now more on a new federal law aimed at keeping you safe on the highways, by banning truckers from using hand held cell phones.

Trucker Sean Newberry knows its dangerous to juggle talking on a cell phone and driving his 18 wheeler at the same time.

"Holding a cell phone while you're driving a truck steering through 13 to 18 gears, 80-thousand pound guided missle, you want to be as safe as possible obviously," says Newberry.

Beginning tomorrow, state troopers will be enforcing a new federal law banning truckers from using a hand held cell phone they can use a hands free device, but must be able to answer the phone in a single touch.

"When you're talking about an 80 to 100-thousand pound truck, it's a lethal weapon at times if somebody's driving distracted," says Sgt. Matt Couchman.

A federal motor safety agency says truck drivers who reach for cell phones are three times more likely to be involved in a crash. Trucker Wallace Peace says even a headset isn't a guarantee for safe driving.

"If I'm in busy traffic, something like that, I'll just place a call later on, even you can get distracted with the headset on," says Peace.

Drivers could face fines of up to nearly 28-hundred dollars if they're found violating the ban. Truckers also say they could get fired if they're caught breaking the new cell phone law.

Other drivers we talked to say the roads will be safer.

"As long as they're able to use a blue tooth that automatically answers or is a one touch, it's fine," says Linda Bayne.

"They can't stop real fast as we all know and I think it'd be a really great thing," says Loraine Bliss.

Sean Newberry believes no call is too important to take when lives are at stake.

"No call is putting your life on the line or anybody else's life on the line," says Newberry.

The new federal rule also bans bus drivers from using hand-held cell phones while driving. Nationwide, 55-hundred people died in crashes caused by distracted driving in 2009.