Recently, legislators proposed a group of laws that would implement new regulations and technology to improve safety within the commercial carrier industry and likewise on the nation's roadways.
Senator Frank R. Lautenber, D-New Jersey, announced that the recently convened Senate Commerce subcommittee's bill is intended to improve traffic safety nationwide and work within the broader federal transportation reorganization package currently being composed in both the Senate and the House.
Proposed Trucking Safety Legislation
The bill, sponsored by Lautenber, would give the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) more authority in multiple areas including preventing dangerous, previously shut-down companies from "reincarnating" themselves as new companies. The FMCSA would also be able to sanction the few trucking and carrier companies that evade safety compliance requirements time after time.
If passed, the new laws would require all commercial vehicles to be equipped with electronic regulators to monitor drivers' hours in order to prevent trucking accidents caused by driver fatigue . Additionally, new drivers would undergo more thorough and detailed training while veteran drivers would be required to prove their safe driving skills more often with increased inspections.
Those opening a new carrier business would also have new requirements under the proposed legislation including submitting a mandatory detailed safety management plan for the business as well as pass a safety review within one year of registering.
It is the hope of the committee that the improved driver training and tougher criteria for new companies will reduce the number of accidents resulting from driver error or company negligence.
Dangers of Accidents Involving Large Trucks
Motor vehicle accidents involving commercial vehicles like large semi trucks are especially dangerous due to the overwhelming size and weight of the larger vehicles. Tractor trailers and buses have specific safety hazards that, if ignored or underestimated, can cause a crash resulting in a serious injury or fatality, often to the driver and passengers of the smaller passenger vehicle involved in the crash. Motorists should understand that vehicles that large demand more time and space due to poor visibility and slower braking abilities, and make sure to leave room.
In the event of a trucking accident, it is important for injured victims or their families to understand that they do have rights. Seek the counsel of a personal injury attorney to help protect those rights and discuss your legal options.