Ralph Nader's Group "Public Citizens" Persists

Courtesy MTA
Late yesterday, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) agreed to review and reconsider its Hours-of-Service (HOS) rule, putting on hold a federal court challenge by a coalition of advocacy groups. The "settlement agreement" between FMCSA and Public Citizen (& other groups), filed with the court on Monday, gives FMCSA nine months to submit a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to the White House, and 21 months to issue a final rule. Until that time, the current rule remains in effect.

According to DOT and FMCSA, the settlement was "procedural" in nature, and that there is nothing in the agreement binding FMCSA to a particular rulemaking outcome.

Click here for the full agreement.

We will keep you informed as we learn more about this development.

CVSA PUTS THE BRAKES ON AGGRESSIVE, DISTRACTED DRIVING

National Awareness Campaign “Operation Safe Driver” Seeks to Educate All Drivers on Risks

Washington, DC (October 13, 2009) – When commercial vehicles and passenger cars collide, the result is a deadly and costly mix of injuries, property damage, and death. In an effort to reduce crashes involving trucks, buses and passenger vehicles the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA), in partnership with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), and other organizations, are joining together to educate all drivers on the toll their behavior takes on society. The message: “Cutting it close can cut your life short.”

"Driving is a privilege and all drivers need to share the road responsibly. Operation Safe Driver shines a spotlight on this responsibility and is implementing strategies to improve driver behavior and performance,” said Stephen Keppler, CVSA’s Interim Executive Director.

Operation Safe Driver is a national awareness and enforcement campaign that targets improving both commercial and non-commercial driver behavior and performance through effective enforcement, education and awareness strategies. The program runs from October 18-24, 2009 across North America and is supported by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Governors Highway Safety Association, American Trucking Associations, United Motorcoach Association, American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, and the National District Attorneys Association, among others.

“Operation Safe Driver helps convey the message that every driver behind the wheel of a vehicle has a personal responsibility to make our highways as safe as they can be. Drivers of commercial vehicles have an especially important obligation because of the time they spend on the road,” said Rose A. McMurray, FMCSA Acting Deputy Administrator.

“This year’s campaign takes the importance of highway safety directly to our young people so they can adopt safe driving habits for a lifetime of safe driving practices. FMCSA is pleased to once again join with CVSA to sponsor this national awareness campaign that educates all drivers on how their actions can improve road safety and save lives.”

A new component of the Operation Safe Driver program this year takes the issue of aggressive and distracted driving by car drivers around large truck and buses directly to teens across the country. Schools will be teaching teens about the risks of dangerous driving behavior during this week and concentrate on the unsafe driving practices of drivers who share the road with larger, commercial vehicles. The “Teens and Trucks” training course was developed by the Arizona Trucking Association, the Arizona Department of Public Safety, CVSA, FMCSA and the American Trucking Associations.

The campaign kick-off event will be held at Walt Whitman High School, in Bethesda, Maryland on October 20, 2009 at 10:30 a.m. to draw attention to these efforts. On the same day, the Dr. Harry Wise High School in Prince George’s County will be conducting an educational component strictly targeted to teens and safe driving around commercial motor vehicles.

In addition, the campaign is launching a new public service announcement to educate all drivers about the risks of driving aggressively. The PSA can be viewed on the website www.operationsafedriver.com as well as on Washington D.C.’s WTOP’s traffic page www.wtop.com.

CVSA is an international not-for-profit organization comprised of local, state, provincial, territorial and federal motor carrier safety officials and industry representatives from the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Our mission is to promote commercial motor vehicle safety and security by providing leadership to enforcement, industry and policy makers. In addition, CVSA has several hundred associate members who are committed to helping the Alliance achieve its goals; uniformity, compatibility and reciprocity of commercial vehicle inspections, and enforcement activities throughout North America by individuals dedicated to highway safety and security. For more on CVSA visit www.cvsa.org.

US DOT PROPOSES BAN ON TEXTING

Office of Public Affairs DOT 156-09 Thursday, October 1, 2009 Contact: USDOT Public Affairs Tel: 202-366-4570 U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood Announces Administration Wide Effort to Combat Distracted Driving WASHINGTON – At the conclusion of a two-day summit on distracted driving in Washington, D.C. today, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced a series of concrete actions the Obama Administration and the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) are taking to help put an end to distracted driving. Last night, President Obama signed an Executive Order directing federal employees not to engage in text messaging while driving government-owned vehicles; when using electronic equipment supplied by the government while driving; or while driving privately owned vehicles when they’re on official government business. The order also encourages federal contractors and others doing business with the government to adopt and enforce their own policies banning texting while driving on the job. “This order sends a very clear signal to the American public that distracted driving is dangerous and unacceptable. It shows that the federal government is leading by example,” said Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “I fully expect that all 58,000 DOT employees and contractors will take this order seriously. Let’s show our friends and families that we can resist the temptation to answer the phone, send a message, or allow some other distraction to interfere with our driving.” Secretary LaHood pledged to work with Congress to ensure that the issue of distracted driving is appropriately addressed. He also announced a number of immediate actions the Department is taking to combat distracted driving, including the Department’s plan to create three separate rulemakings that would consider: Making permanent restrictions on the use of cell phones and other electronic devices in rail operations. Banning text messaging altogether, and restrict the use of cell phones by truck and interstate bus operators. Disqualifying school bus drivers convicted of texting while driving, from maintaining their commercial driver’s licenses. The Secretary also called on state and local governments to work with USDOT to reduce fatalities and crashes by making distracted driving part of their state highway plans, and by continuing to pass state and local laws against distracted driving in all types of vehicles, especially school buses. He asked states and local governments to back up public awareness campaigns with high-visibility enforcement actions. And he said the Department is establishing an on-line clearinghouse on the risks of distracted driving, aimed especially at young people, which will give them information to help encourage good decisions. Secretary LaHood also pledged to continue the Department’s research on how to best combat distracted driving. As part of this pledge, the Department will launch a new demonstration program this year to evaluate techniques that states can use to get the most out of their efforts to end this destructive behavior. “Keeping Americans safe is without question the federal government’s highest priority – and that includes safety on the road, as well as on mass transit and rail,” said Secretary LaHood. “I’m greatly encouraged by the work accomplished at this summit. Working together, we’re going to make sure that traveling in America is as safe as it can possibly be and I strongly encourage the public to take personal responsibility for their behavior and show a healthy respect for the rules of the road.” The two-day summit brought together safety experts, researchers, industry representatives, elected officials and members of the public who shared their expertise, experiences and ideas for reducing distracted driving behavior and addressed the safety risk posed by this growing problem across all modes of transportation. Authoritative speakers from around the nation led interactive sessions on a number of key topics including the extent and impact of distracted driving, current research, regulations and best practices. Individuals from 49 states participated in the summit via the web. The summit also featured a discussion with Seventeen Editor-in-Chief Ann Shoket and three young adults that explored the dangers of texting and driving. High school classrooms across the country tuned into the youth geared program and heard insights from Reggie Shaw, 22, and Nicole Meredith, 18, both of whom caused car crashes because they were texting while behind the wheel. Reggie and Nicole were joined by Natalie Hayford, 17, a teen advocate with the Anoka, Minnesota chapter of Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD). Natalie works with her school and community to try and educate people her age about the dangers of distracted driving. Together with the National Organizations for Youth Safety (NOYS) and the National Road Safety Foundation (NRSF), the group announced the Drive for Life PSA contest. The contest challenges kids and teens to submit a PSA concept on combating distracted or impaired driving and the winner will be sent to New York City to help producers actually put their PSA together. Additional information on the challenge can be found at www.noys.org or www.nrsf.org. To watch Secretary LaHood’s video blog on distracted driving visit www.dot.gov. The full webcast of the summit will be available later this week on www.dot.gov. # # #

Truck Drivers Appreciated!

During National Truck Driver Appreciation Week, November 1 - 7, America takes the time to honor professional truck drivers for their hard work and commitment in tackling one of our economy's most demanding and important jobs.

So join us in celebrating the men and women across the country who work hard every day to deliver the Good Stuff!

National Truck Driver Appreciation Week is the perfect time to show your drivers how much you appreciate their hard work, commitment and safe driving. Small gifts are a great way to make this week memorable.

To view some gift ideas for your drivers, please visit
http://www.atabusinesssolutions.com/c-13-national-truck-driver-appreciation-week.aspx.

CONGRESS PASSES CR THAT PROVIDES FUNDING FOR DOT AND FMCSA AT 2009 LEVELS TO OCTOBER 31ST AND EXTENDS SAFETEA-LU FOR ONE MONTH AS WELL

Courtesy of CVSA

Last night, just hours before the end of the 2009 Fiscal Year, Congress passed a Continuing Resolution (CR) that funds most agencies of the Federal Government, including DOT, through October 31^st at 2009 levels.

However, because of budget rules and recessions, some of which were actually put in place in SAFETEA-LU at the time it passed in August of 2005 but not to take effect until the day the law expires, the funding levels provided for in the CR will actually be lower than the 2009 levels. FMCSA is impacted to the tune of $133 million on an annual basis. One-twelfth of that amount will affect October’s allocations. It is not known at this point if there may be some leeway allowing affected agencies to use previously unspent monies to help offset this.

To put this into perspective, the highway programs will receive $11.9 billion less on annual basis.

The good news is that such reductions may be only temporary. When Congress passes the regular 2010 DOT Appropriations bill and when Congress passes a free-standing three-month extension of SAFETEA-LU, it may take the opportunity to try and restore many of the cuts. There is a reasonable chance that Congress will act on both measures before October 31.

We will keep you advised.