The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has published its wish list for 2013. Every year they tell us what they’re going to spend the next year focused on. They use the list to call attention to their top transportation safety concerns. This year’s list runs the gamut of all kinds of transportation, but trucking specifically will get a lot of attention .
Here’s their top 10:
- Improve safety of airport surface operations.
- Preserve the integrity of transportation infrastructure.
- Enhance pipeline safety.
- Implement positive train control systems.
- Eliminate substance-impaired driving.
- Improve the safety of bus operations.
- Eliminate distraction in transportation.
- Improve fire safety in transportation.
- Improve general aviation safety.
- Mandate motor vehicle collision avoidance technologies.
Let’s call attention to numbers 2, 5, 7, and 10.
Number two, “preserve the integrity of transportation infrastructure,” is a pretty straightforward mandate to maintain the current roads, bridges, and tunnels. Absolutely. The nation needs to continue to invest in our infrastructure and reverse the downward trend that we’ve seen in the past few years.
Number five, “Eliminate substance-impaired driving” is pretty universally accepted. Drivers who are using recreational drugs are a danger on the road and a threat to the reputation of truckers everywhere – and absolutely no one supports drunk drivers. This one is a goal everyone can get behind, but we face the same seemingly insurmountable difficulties that we always do.
The task to “Eliminate distraction in transportation” is a slippery goal. While we can all agree that distracted driving is extremely dangerous, there is immense debate over what constitutes a “distraction.” This may address the problem of texting while driving, but what about hands-free devices? Where will the NTSB fall on a driver using his mobile device as GPS? Number seven sounds like a noble endeavor, but keep an eye on this one.
Finally we come to “Mandate motor vehicle collision avoidance technologies.” Any time the word “mandate” is used, truckers should listen closely. Prepare for expensive regulations that seek to mitigate the damage done by irresponsible drivers and carriers while damaging the livelihood of responsible drivers. That being said your apprehension can be tempered if the “collision avoidance technologies” described are something that we have not yet seen; some new tech that will actually make a difference in a way that won’t put excessive financial strain on owner-operators and small fleets.
Almost immediately after the NTSB published the list, the ATA jumped on board to applaud the list – which should make every trucker nervous.
Next story: Case is Built Against Kidnapper of Trucker’s Daughter
Source: ttnews
Image Source: www.maxtrescott.com
Do these “distractions” include short skirts, low cut blouses, or underwear ads on billboards? My point is, there are many distractions to include local town ordinance signs that take a moment to read, concentrating on the four wheeler that is hiding in your blind spot or attaching themselves to your DOT bumper, so where do they start?
One thing elected official ignore and on purpose, are the causes of items such as 5, 7 and 10. Government and employer relationships to the employees. Low pay and high costs to the driver owner of tractor/trailers I’ve seen as the number one problem that set in motions those items occurring.
The rules set forth are mostly on the driver and no one else, so the company through bully tactics; dump full responsibilities upon the drivers along with their own manipulation of drivers to get drivers working for peanuts.
Citizens do not refer to our country as police states for nothing. Manipulation, control is the name of the game. How stupid they are that cooperation is not a part of their actions.
Talk is cheap.
You’re echoing what I’ve said for quite sometime, and it only seems to get worse, as some say “THAT”S TRUCKIN!” THAT’S BULL as far as I’m concerned, that’s why I got out from behind the wheel I know what time I’m starting everyday and what time I’m leaving, I work half the hours and make more money. Sounds like you need to do the same. I miss the truck, I don’t miss being looked down upon.
It’s never going to change until all drivers stick together, with that said it’s never going to change.
I absolutely agree. The old “that’s trucking” cliche has become the status quo because it has been allowed to do so.
Nothing new under the sun…… Corporate took over a long time ago, in coalition with the pockets they get elected, a long time ago….. Definitely not a game for the independent minded soul these days…. Just a barrel of infantile rhetoric…. You know ” Get the public to believe they can live in perfect safety, because the government will protect you all day long”. Responsibility for your safety belongs with you! Look at the media and all their pandering to the corporates…. Have you seen a Ken Burns documentary on trucking and the Fair Labor Standards laws? 7/24/168 hours a week and paid way less than minimum wage. Trucking is” The New Slavery of The 21st Century”.
I actually it’s a indirect tax. That I would imagine the govt. Officials have a financial interest in . But in this case I imagine a second paycheck for some of them . In this type of case not a way to trace a conflict of interest to any officials that instruct this mandate.