ATA unveils 18 initiatives for greater highway safety

The American Trucking Associations (ATA) unveiled its new highway safety agenda at a Capitol Hill press conference.

“While the trucking industry is now the safest it has been since the US Department of Transportation began keeping crash statistics in 1975, we must continue to further the trend,” said Bill Graves, ATA president and chief executive officer. “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.”

The 18 initiatives on ATA’s safety agenda are:
Improving Driver Performance:
1. Policy on the use of non-integrated technologies while the vehicle is in motion
2. Policy supporting uniform commercial driver license (CDL) testing standards
3. Policy supporting a CDL graduated licensing study
4. Policy supporting additional parking facilities for trucks
5. Policy supporting a national maximum 65-mph speed limit for all vehicles
6. Policy supporting strategies to increase use of seat belts
7. Policy supporting a national car-truck driver behavior improvement program
8. Policy supporting increased use of red-light cameras and automated speed enforcement
9. Policy supporting graduated licensing standards in all states for non-commercial teen-age drivers
10. Policy supporting more stringent laws to reduce drinking and driving
Safer Vehicles:
11. Policy supporting targeted electronic speed governing of certain non-commercial vehicles
12. Policy supporting electronic speed governing of all large trucks manufactured since 1992
13. Policy supporting new large-truck crashworthiness standards
Safer Motor Carriers:
14. Policy supporting a national employer notification system
15. Policy supporting a national clearinghouse for positive drug and alcohol test results of CDL holders
16. Policy supporting a national registry of certified medical examiners
17. Policy supporting access to the national Driver Information Resource
18. Policy supporting required safety training by new entrant motor carriers