ATA unveils progressive new highway safety agenda

posted by AJOT | Jun 09 2009 at 08:00 PM | Intermodal

The American Trucking Associations (ATA) unveiled its bold new highway safety agenda at a press conference on Capitol Hill.

'While the trucking industry is now the safest it has been since the US Department of Transportation began keeping crash statistics in 1975, we must continue to further the trend,' said ATA President and CEO Bill Graves. 'Our 18 progressive safety policies will advance highway safety for all highway users by improving driver performance, creating safer vehicles, and improving motor carrier performance.'

Road Safe America Executive Director Tom Hodgson said, 'We admire the fact that many members of the ATA are among the most safety-conscious corporate citizens in America. Road Safe America is proud to throw its support behind these commonsense, cost-effective, straightforward safety rules as proposed by the ATA.'

John Hill, former Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administrator, also applauded ATA's leadership on highway safety. 'I appreciate all the work that's been done and I believe (the new safety agenda) is a good platform as we move into the next highway authorization process,' said Hill. The cause of 'Eighty-eight percent of all crashes involve a driver, whether they be a passenger vehicle or commercial driver.'The strategies today specifically address driver deficiency areas and give drivers tool they need to improve highway safety.'

'We support many of the key recommendations in the ATA safety agenda, including graduated licensing for young drivers, primary safety belt enforcement laws, speed enforcement, red light running cameras, tough anti-drunk driving laws, safer vehicle designs and effective driver licensing and supervision. If enacted, ATA's measures will reduce fatalities, injuries and economic costs for everyone sharing our highways,' said American Insurance Association Vice President and Associate General Counsel of Public Policy David Snyder.

ATA Vice Chair and Safety Task Force Chair Barbara Windsor explained how committed the trucking industry is to improving highway safety.' 'Our job is to deliver the goods that America needs safely and on time,' said Windsor, who is also President and CEO of Hahn Transportation Inc. 'We believe this progressive safety agenda will help make our highways even safer.' Hahn Transportation, founded by Windsor's grandfather in 1933, is a specialized regional trucking firm that hauls throughout the Mid-Atlantic corridor.

'This agenda is proven and will improve safety results on our highways,' said Doug Duncan, President and CEO of FedEx Freight. 'Many of us in ATA are a testament to that and this broader application will make highways safer for all who share them.' FedEx Freight provides regional and national less-than-truckload (LTL) freight services.

'Over the past 20 years the involvement rate of large trucks in fatal crashes has been cut in half,' said Arkansas Best President and CEO Bob Davidson. 'Our professional drivers are safe and the trends are encouraging. With the important safety initiatives the ATA is announcing, we all can continue to raise the bar.' Arkansas Best's largest subsidiary, ABF Freight System Inc., is one of North America's largest and most experienced motor carriers and has operated since 1923.

'As a professional driver, nothing is more important than getting home safe to my family every day,' said David May, a driver at Con-Way Freight and an ATA America's Road Team Captain. Con-way Freight provides LTL service across North America.

The 18 initiatives on ATA's safety agenda are:

Improving Driver Performance: