ATA unveils new safety agenda with speed limiter component

The Trucker Staff

6/9/2009

ARLINGTON, Va. — The American Trucking Associations (ATA) today presented a new highway agenda at a press conference on Capitol Hill that the lobbying group said will greatly advance the cause of highway safety.

Another trucking group, however, said the plan, which includes mandating speed limiters, is unsafe.

“While the trucking industry is now the safest it has been since the U.S. Department of Transportation began keeping crash statistics in 1975, we must continue to further the trend,” said ATA President and CEO Bill Graves. “Our 18 progressive safety policies will advance highway safety for all highway users by improving driver performance, creating safer vehicles, and improving motor carrier performance.”

Road Safe America Executive Director Tom Hodgson said, “We admire the fact that many members of the ATA are among the most safety-conscious corporate citizens in America. Road Safe America is proud to throw its support behind these commonsense, cost-effective, straightforward safety rules as proposed by the ATA.”

John Hill, former Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administrator (FMCSA), also applauded ATA’s plan. “I appreciate all the work that’s been done and I believe [the new safety agenda] is a good platform as we move into the next highway authorization process,” said Hill. The cause of “Eighty-eight percent of all crashes involve a driver, whether they be a passenger vehicle or commercial driver.  The strategies today specifically address driver deficiency areas and give drivers tool they need to improve highway safety.”

However, the Owner Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) said the plan was neither progressive nor safe “and will cause more accidents than it prevents.”

OOIDA said the plan “calls upon Congress to mandate that all Class 7 and 8 commercial trucks manufactured after 1992 have a speed limiter set so that engine speed is restricted to 65 miles per hour.

“OOIDA contends such a mandate is dangerous, expensive and unnecessary since research clearly shows that highways are the safest when all traffic flows at a uniform speed. Speed limiting trucks while not doing the same for cars will cause speed differentials and interactions which will lead to more accidents.

“Truck drivers need access to that power to keep up with the speed of traffic and to be able to maneuver around dangerous situations,” said Todd Spencer, OOIDA executive vice-president. “We already have speed limits in this country, so we should instead enforce those laws more effectively.”

“With their sights set on limiting competition as well as setting the stage for heavier and longer vehicles, large trucking corporations have advocated mandatory speed limiters on trucks under the guise of safety.   More recently, those companies have attempted to ‘greenwash’ the issue citing environmental benefits,” Spencer said. 

“Large trucking companies speed limit their trucks because it is one way to manage a fleet,” he continued.  “With an operation of 100 or more trucks, you aren’t always sure who is handling your equipment and how they are treating it. But when driving your own truck, like the majority of the trucking industry, you are perfectly aware of what you are doing and have your own incentives to drive safely and efficiently.”

American Insurance Association Vice President and Associate General Counsel of Public Policy David Snyder, said “If enacted, ATA’s measures will reduce fatalities, injuries and economic costs for everyone sharing our highways.”

“This agenda is proven and will improve safety results on our highways,” said Doug Duncan, president and CEO of FedEx Freight. “Many of us in ATA are a testament to that and this broader application will make highways safer for all who share them.”

For ATA’s entire safety report with detailed explanations of the 18 initiatives, click here.

The 18 initiatives on ATA’s safety agenda are:

Improving Driver Performance:

• Policy on the use of non-integrated technologies while the vehicle is in motion

• Policy supporting uniform commercial drivers license (CDL) testing standards

• Policy supporting a CDL graduated licensing study

• Policy supporting additional parking facilities for trucks

• Policy supporting a national maximum 65 mph speed limit for all vehicles

• Policy supporting strategies to increase the use of seat belts

• Policy supporting a national car-truck driver behavior improvement program

• Policy supporting increased use of red light cameras and automated speed enforcement

• Policy supporting graduated licensing standards in all states for non-commercial teen drivers, and

10. Policy supporting more stringent laws to reduce drinking and driving.

Safer Vehicles:

• Policy supporting targeted electronic speed governing of certain non-commercial vehicles

• Policy supporting electronic speed governing of all large trucks manufactured since 1992, and

• Policy supporting new large truck crashworthiness standards

Safer Motor Carriers:

• Policy supporting a national employer notification system

• Policy supporting a national clearinghouse for positive drug and alcohol test results of  CDL holders

• Policy supporting a national registry of certified medical examiners

• Policy supporting access to the national Driver Information Resource, and

• Policy supporting required safety training by new entrant motor carriers.

 Follow The Trucker on Twitter at www.twitter.com/truckertalk.

The Trucker staff may be reached to comment at editor@thetrucker.com.