U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION COMMERCIAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY ACTION PLAN

U.S. Department of Transportation
May 25, 1999

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

COMMERCIAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY

ACTION PLAN

MAY 25, 1999

THE CHALLENGE AND OUR
COMMITMENT

Over the past ten years, the truck fatality rate
has been significantly lowered, but still, about 5,000 people die
in truck crashes every year. There is enormous personal loss for
victims and their families associated with these statistics

The progress we’ve made in the past is not enough. We are
committed to reducing deaths and injuries. We are committed
to achieving an aggressive goal of reducing fatalities resulting
from large truck crashes 50 percent within the next ten years.

IMMEDIATE ACTIONS 


    
Increased Enforcement - Tougher Review of Carrier
        Operations and Increased Penalties
    
Shutting down "unfit" motor carriers. Using new
        authorities given the Department under TEA-21.
    
Increased penalties for violations: Safety investigators
        have been direct to use their new authority to levy
        penalties of up to $10,000 for each separate violation.
        Record keeping violations that conceal a fact
        constituting a serious violation can lead up to a $5,000
        penalty per violation. This should persuade irresponsible
        carriers, who have histories of repeat violations, that
        small fines are not just a cost of doing business. 
    
Doubling the number of compliance reviews each safety
        investigator will conduct each year, from 24 to 48.
    
Where a death occurs in a crash, aggressively pursuing
        criminal or civil actions, when warranted. 
    
Limited negotiated settlements of fines in enforcement
        cases. "Wrist slaps" will be eliminated. 
    
Backlog Elimination: By January 1, 2000, we will have
        eliminated the current backlog of 1200 enforcement cases.
    
Increased Resources: The Administration has amended its
        FY 2000 budget asking Congress to provide $55.8M to
        expand our capabilities and further aid our state
        partners.


Enhanced Regulatory Power - More Tools for Safety Inspectors 


    
Our goal is to have a final rule on hours-of-service
        completed as soon as possible. We will engage all
        interested and affected parties in the process of
        achieving this goal. 
    
Railroad grade crossing violations. By this Summer, we
        will complete final rules to disqualify from holding a
        commercial drivers license, drivers who violate warnings.


Improved Information Management Systems


    
Aid state efforts to improve the quality and timely
        reporting of data they collect on accidents and
        enforcement actions in their states. This will help
        target investigations and enforcement.
    
By this Fall, a newly strengthened collaborative among
        FHWA, NHTSA, and BTS will be started to collect better
        data on the causes of truck crashes.


New Research and Technology Initiatives


    
Improve safety in over-the-road motor coach operations.
        Collaborative research with the motor coach manufacturing
        and operating industries will start this Fall to identify
        possible improvements that can practicably be made to
        improve rollover protection while maintaining existing
        frontal crash performance. 
    
Real-world, in-service evaluation of advanced technology
        collision avoidance systems. Testing will begin early
        next year.


Public Information, Education, Partnership, and Outreach


    
Begin this Fall, a new safety awareness campaign, titled
        "Safety is Good Business." The needs of new
        motor carriers entering the business will receive special
        attention. The campaign will highlight the links between
        profitability and following proven safety practices.
    
Expand the "Share the Road/No Zone" campaign to
        inform all drivers how they can operate more safely and
        comfortably around large trucks with which they share our
        highways.


FUTURE ACTIONS

During the next 90 days, engage all affected parties in frank
discussions about the long range strategy that will be needed to
achieve our aggressive fatality and injury reduction goal. This
broad agenda will involve the integrated and coordinated efforts
of the Federal Highway Administration, the National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration, the Research and Special Programs
Administration, the Federal Transit Administration, the Federal
Railroad Administration, and the Bureau of Transportation
Statistics. Actions that will be considered include:


    
Crashworthiness requirements to reduce fatalities in
        truck/car collisions.
    
Requirements for effectively controlling speeding of
        large trucks.
    
Imposing requirements that new carriers demonstrate
        knowledge of existing safety regulations.
    
Setting aggressive and accountable goals for states to
        reduce fatalities.
    
Imposing stiffer requirements on CDL applicants for
        traffic and drug and alcohol related violations.
    
Establishing a National Commission to study how pay
        affects drivers’ decisions to drive too many hours.