LEGAL LANE
LEGAL LANE
have recently read about a report released by ATA citing numerous studies showing that passenger vehicle( car) drivers are principally responsible for about 70 % of fatal car-truck crashes. This coming week in Transport Topics you’ ll be able to find additional evidence underscoring this conclusion.” For instance:
• In 85 % of fatal head-on collisions between a large truck and a car, the car crossed the center median into the truck’ s lane of travel.
• In 80 % of rear-end collisions involving a large truck and a car resulting in a fatality, the passenger vehicle rear-ended the truck.
• We know that 31 % of all traffic fatalities result from crashes involving a driver who was impaired by alcohol(>. 08 BAC). However, in only 2 % of fatal truck crashes was the truck driver alcohol impaired.
• Also, we know that younger drivers, like teenagers, and older drivers, those over 70 years of age, have higher fatal crash rates than middle age drivers. But teenagers and the elderly rarely drive trucks. The minimum age to operate a truck in interstate commerce is 21 and most truck drivers retire by age 70 if not sooner. In fact, the average age for truck drivers right now is about 48.
• Finally, experience and research has taught us that a person’ s driving record – their patterns of moving violations – is a strong predictor of future crash risk. For this reason, most trucking companies refuse to hire applicants who have been convicted of multiple moving violations. Also, CDL regulations prohibit individuals who have been convicted of certain egregious moving violations from driving a truck. But the standard for driving a car is much lower. In fact, hundreds of thousands( perhaps millions) of people who drive cars would never be allowed to drive trucks.
Byrd followed with,“ Recognizing these statistics – that 80 % of fatal truck crashes are two-vehicle crashes and at least 70 % of those are initiated by other motorists – we must admit that focusing almost exclusively on the condition of trucks and the behavior of truck drivers will – at best – be minimally effective in reducing fatal truck crashes. We must increase our emphasis on the unsafe behavior of those operating around trucks, both through enforcement and education. Said another way, changing the unsafe behaviors that cause the majority of truck-involved crashes must play a greater role in MCSAP and FMCSA’ s programs if we are to achieve the safety outcomes we all want.”
What I believe Phil Byrd is saying is the government doctor has his focus all wrong. The daily food that consists of 70 % donuts is the problem not the 30 % apples. But it appears that monetary fines for stops with inspections( read donuts here) are much higher than for stops without inspections( read apples here) and we all know the states really, really need the money.
Numbers don’ t lie. So I ask you, money for the states or safety for us? ■
You can contact Jim C. Klepper at www. interstatetrucker. com or www. driverslegalplan. com. The information advice and opinions in Legal Lane are entirely those of Jim C. Klepper.
46 DrivingForceMag. com August 2013 • • •
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