Road Safe America Praises LaHood's Strong Support For Roll-Back of Truckers' Work Hours

ATLANTA, Nov. 7, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood's stern rebuke of a congressional move to block tighter working hours for long haul truckers drew vigorous support today from RSA Co-Founder and President Steve Owings, who said LaHood "is committing the full authority of his office to well-researched and long-overdue regulations that could save hundreds of lives every year."

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has said it plans to limit truckers to a 10-hour work day, citing an estimate that approximately 500 of the 4,000 annual highway deaths involving large trucks involve an overly tired commercial trucker.  Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R-NH), has proposed amending the Transportation Appropriations Bill to require that FMCSA withdraw the rule change.

"Fatigue on our Nation's highways is a very serious concern and affects everyone who shares the roads with the trucking industry," LaHood said in an Oct. 19 letter to Ayotte in which he urged the senator to drop her opposition to the proposed regulation.

Owings said LaHood's letter to Sen. Ayotte "clearly shows that the current Department of Transportation is making considerable deliberate effort towards saving lives."  

Most trucking industry members have pressed to preserve the existing 11 hour-per-day limit, rather than restore the 10-hour ceiling that was in force for decades before being raised in 2004.

"Safety advocates like Road Safe America see the daily horror that overworked and under-rested truck drivers cause on our roads," Owings said.  "We're very happy that Secretary LaHood and FMCSA share our views.  Congress must not block this critical step toward safer roads."

Road Safe America is a non-profit organization promoting road safety, with particular focus on issues related to heavy commercial vehicles. It was co-founded by the parents of Cullum Owings, who was killed when his car – stopped in an interstate traffic jam – was crushed from behind by a tractor trailer truck going 7 mph over the posted speed limit using cruise control.

SOURCE Road Safe America

WANT YOUR COMPANY'S NEWS FEATURED ON PRNEWSWIRE.COM?

440k+
Newsrooms &
Influencers

9k+
Digital Media
Outlets

270k+
Journalists
Opted In

GET STARTED