Effective July 1: Kansas Safety Belt Law, Georgia Text Ban

Kansas Becomes 31st State to Pass Primary Safety Belt Law
Beginning July 1st, law enforcement officers can stop truckers for not wearing a safety belt in Kansas. Previously, Kansas law considered failing to wear a safety belt a secondary offense; it could only be enforced if the driver was stopped for another infraction, such as speeding. By passing the law, Kansas is eligible for $1 million in federal funds for public safety programs. Read an article by the Wichita Eagle.

Georgia Becomes 28th State to Ban Texting While Driving
Also beginning on July 1st, drivers in Georgia can receive a citation for texting while driving. The law bans sending a text message as well as reading an incoming text. However, Georgia Gov. Sonny Purdue indicated that the law may change in the future because of potentially confusing ramifications in the language. When a cell phone buzzes, the driver may not know whether it is a phone call or a text message without checking the phone. A law enforcement official may interpret checking a phone to be reading a text message. Read an article by the Atlanta Journal Constitution.

FMCSA to Establish Regulatory Guidelines Regarding Sleep Apnea

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is studying the effect of sleep apnea and the potential impact on truck drivers.

Sleep apnea is most often caused by a blockage of a person’s air passageway, most commonly when the soft tissue in the throat collapses and closes during sleep. People with untreated sleep apnea can repeatedly stop breathing during their sleep – often for a minute or longer.

"Drivers with severe sleep apnea are at greater risk of being involved in a crash," says Anne Ferro, chief of the FMCSA. Ferro contends that sleep apnea promotes fatigue, and fatigue is estimated to be an associated factor in 13 percent of all truck crashes and 28 percent of single vehicle crashes.

The FMCSA is considering recommendations from the Medical Review Board that suggest that all drivers should be tested for sleep apnea. However, it acknowledges that more scientific data linking sleep apnea to driver safety is required before it would recommend barring a driver from certification.

Schneider National, J.B. Hunt, and Coastal Pacific Xpress are companies that have implemented or are developing a sleep apnea program without waiting on regulations. Don Osterberg, senior vice president of safety at Schneider said, “The real objective is to improve the welfare and safety not only of our own drivers but the motoring public as well.”

Read a news piece on sleep apnea and trucking safety.

President Obama Issues Executive Order to Improve Fuel Efficiency of Trucks

President Obama has directed the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Transportation (DOT) to create the first-ever national policy to increase fuel efficiency for both medium-duty and heavy-duty trucks starting with model years 2014 and full compliance by 2018.

In announcing the directive, the President said the fuel economy of commercial trucks could increase as much as 25 percent using technologies in place today. Preliminary analysis suggests that—over the lifetime of vehicles built between 2014-2018—the program could save up to 500 million barrels of oil and achieve approximately $70 billion in fuel savings.

As auto/truck manufacturers strive to meet the executive order of more fuel efficiency, some of the ramifications could include:

· Reduction in the overall weight of trucks
· Smaller truck engines installed

Critics argue this is a classic case of fuel efficiency versus safety. In order to achieve the standards, trucks will need to be lighter in order to use less fuel. However, lighter weight trucks can make the driver more susceptible to injury in a collision. The challenge will be for engineers to explore new ways to keep drivers and occupants safe in lighter trucks. Additionally, the policy created by the EPA and DOT must be closely monitored and evaluated to determine the impact on truck driver safety.

Read a short news piece about the policy.

Roadcheck 2010 Begins Tomorrow

For 72 continuous hours, June 8-10, law enforcement officers and inspectors will be conducting comprehensive safety inspections of trucks and enforcing safety belt use. Roadcheck is sponsored by the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CSVA). In 2009, Roadcheck performed 72,782 truck and bus inspections, and it can be said that this resulted in saving 17 lives and preventing 307 injuries.

The focus of Roadcheck 2010 will be a North American Standard (NAS) Level I Inspection, which includes an examination of the following:

· Driver’s license
· Medical examiner's certificate and waiver
· Alcohol and drugs (if applicable)
· Driver’s record of duty status (as required)
· Hours of service
· Seat belt
· Vehicle inspection report
· Brake system
· Coupling devices
· Exhaust system
· Frame & fuel system
· Turn signals
· Brake, tail and head lamps
· Lamps on projecting loads
· Safe loading
· Steering mechanism
· Suspension
· Tires, wheels and rims
· Van and open-top trailer bodies
· Windshield wipers
· Emergency exits on buses and HM requirements as applicable

"Roadcheck is successful because of the dedication and hard work of the thousands of roadside inspectors all across North America, as well as the strength of our partnerships and of the combined commitment to ensure trucks and buses are sharing the road safely with others," said Stephen A. Keppler, CVSA's interim executive director.

Visit the CVSA website.
Learn more about Roadcheck 2010.

Maryland Bans Handheld Cell Phone Use While Driving; Wisconsin Bans Texting While Driving

Maryland is the latest state to ban the use of handheld cell phones while driving. On May 20, Gov. Martin O’Malley signed into law a bill that makes it a secondary offense to be caught using a handheld cell phone while driving. This means an officer can enforce the law only after observing a driver committing another offense, such as running a stop sign. Under the new law, which will take effect on October 1, drivers will be permitted to use a hands-free device for talking.

Wisconsin recently enacted a law banning texting while driving. On May 5, Gov. Jim Doyle signed into law a bill that makes it a primary offense to be caught texting on a mobile device while driving. The new law will take effect on December 1. With the Wisconsin ban, 50 percent of states have enacted a ban on texting. Governors Highway Safety Association’s executive director Barbara Harsha said that she expected another 10 to 15 states to act on a texting ban within the next year.

View a comprehensive list of all cell phone- and texting-while-driving bans by state.

Cell phone use while driving and text messaging while driving are just two examples of distracted driving. Learn more about distracted driving.

New Drivers Should Implement Circle of Safety

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 9 percent growth in trucking jobs by 2018, which represents more than 290,000 jobs. During the economic downturn, thousands of Americans are turning to commercial driving as a career alternative. Read about the growth of trucking jobs.

An important issue for new commercial motor vehicle drivers is their general knowledge of trucking safety. To help keep safety in mind, in addition to an inspection prior to any long haul, drivers should complete a "Circle of Safety" check prior to each drive. The Circle of Safety is simply one complete walk around the entire truck with a mental checklist of items to inspect.

A standard Circle of Safety should include:

Lights – Check the headlights, fog lights, stop, turn, and clearance lights. Replace dead bulbs and keep extras on-board.

Glass – Check the windshield, side windows, and mirrors for scratches, cracks, and excessive dirt. Use glass cleaner to help remove tree sap, tar, and other road grime.

Wheels – Check the tire treads, sidewalls, and inflation levels. Be sure to look for nails, stones, and other road debris that can get embedded in tires. Examine lug nuts to help ensure they are tight and not cross-threaded.

Cargo – Check the doors to ensure they are closed and that cargo is properly secured. Check hitches, electrical connections, and retainers, and be sure to check regularly because cargo can shift during trips.

Once the exterior inspection is complete, make sure the radio, phone, and horn are working. Remember to buckle your safety belt and stay mindful of safety.

State Funding for Safety Programs to Increase

As an effort to boost state-managed fleet safety compliance, DOT compliance, and safety consulting programs, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) established new state registration fees distributed to states that participate in the Unified Carrier Registration Program (UCRP). Enforcement of fees will begin on July 15.

The fees were set higher than last year’s fees, yet they are lower than what was proposed by the agency in 2009.

Number of Vehicles	Previous Fee	New Fee
1 - 2	$39	$76
3 – 5	$116	$227
6 – 20	$231	$452
21 – 100	$806	$1,576
101 – 1,000	$3,840	$7,511
1,001 – 200,000	$37,500	$73,346

The new fees only apply to commercial motor vehicle power units and were launched April 27th. The increased state registration fees may help to remedy fee-based revenue shortfalls that have been experienced by states due to inadequate payment enforcement at roadside inspections and also due to carriers miscounting power units.

Read more about the fee increase.