AAA Says Size Does Matter on Issues of Truck Safety

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Feb 01, 2012, 11:58 ET

Increase in Truck Size in House Transportation Bill is Troublesome

WASHINGTON, Feb. 1, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- AAA opposes language in the U.S. House surface transportation authorization bill that allows for truck size and weight increases. Citing a complete lack of current research and data, AAA is warning that moving ahead with this provision could have serious safety consequences for those traveling on our nation's highways.

"With a nine percent increase in truck related fatalities in 2010, traffic safety is a significant concern," said AAA Managing Director of Government Relations & Traffic Safety Advocacy, Jill Ingrassia. Advocating on behalf of the safety of its 53 million members and road users nationwide, AAA is calling on Congress to strip this provision from the transportation bill. "Additional research is required to demonstrate exactly how bigger and heavier trucks would impact traffic safety. Absent this research, we cannot take the chance – there is simply too much at stake."

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, the additional cost of repairing bridge damage caused by raising truck weights to 97,000 pounds could cost as much as $65 billion. "Far too often, terms like 'structurally deficient' and 'functionally obsolete' are used to describe our roadway system. Bigger and heavier trucks will impose greater damage to an already overburdened and neglected system," said Ingrassia.

To learn more about AAA's efforts to support a national transportation authorization bill, visit MakingAmericaStronger.AAA.com.

As North America's largest motoring and leisure travel organization, AAA provides more than 53 million members with travel, insurance, financial and automotive-related services. Since its founding in 1902, the not-for-profit, fully tax-paying AAA has been a leader and advocate for the safety and security of all travelers. AAA clubs can be visited on the Internet at AAA.com.

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SOURCE AAA