At the Truckload Carriers Association annual convention in Nashville, Sue Lawless, acting deputy administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), provided an update on the agency’s initiatives aimed at achieving zero traffic fatalities on U.S. roads.
Lawless emphasized the importance of adopting a Safe System approach, which acknowledges human fallibility and aims to mitigate crash impact on the human body. This approach involves designing and managing road infrastructure to minimize the risk of accidents and reduce injury severity when crashes occur. Lawless dismissed the notion that zero fatalities are unattainable, highlighting the need for a cultural shift and shared responsibility across various sectors, including healthcare and technology.
FMCSA’s efforts include addressing trucking industry concerns such as safe parking, detention practices, and driver compensation.
“We know creating more and better and safer truck parking is fundamental [to safety],” Lawless said. “… “We know the longer drivers stay in the industry, the safer they become.”
Lawless highlighted the bipartisan infrastructure law’s provisions for improving truck parking, citing significant investments in states like Florida, Missouri, and Tennessee. FMCSA is also conducting research to identify high-demand areas for parking and assess the cost-effectiveness of parking investments.
Additionally, FMCSA launched a driver compensation study to explore how pay influences career choices among drivers. The agency’s Truck Leasing Task Force is examining leasing agreements to understand their potential impact on safety incentives. These initiatives aim to enhance collision prevention by gaining insights into their underlying causes.
FMCSA is also advancing the implementation of hair sample testing in drug screenings and working towards finalizing an Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) rule. Collaborating with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, FMCSA seeks to mandate AEB systems in new trucks and ensure fleet compliance. The publication of the final rulemaking is anticipated later this year, along with a compliance date.
“Technology has the promise of saving lives,” Lawless said.
Source: Commercial Carrier Journal
