U.S. Transportation Secretary Slater Hails Trucking Safety Commitment by Labor, Management |
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Topics: Rodney E. Slater
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Federal Highway Administration
May 20, 1999
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, May 20, 1999
Contact: Virginia Miller
Telephone: 202-366-0660
FHWA 35-99
U.S. Transportation Secretary Rodney E. Slater today applauded the Motor Freight Carriers Association and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters for joining the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) No-Zone public education campaign to teach drivers of passenger cars, large trucks and buses how to safely share the road.
"President Clinton challenged us to make our highways safer and our communities more livable," Secretary Slater said. "I applaud the Motor Freight Carriers and the Teamsters for their commitment to share responsibility for safety, President Clinton’s highest transportation priority."
The No-Zone campaign provides advice to motorists urging them to pass safely, not to follow too close, and to avoid truck and bus drivers’ blind spots, from which the No-Zone campaign takes its name.
"Our partnership with organized labor and company management will prevent crashes and save lives," FHWA Administrator Kenneth R. Wykle said. "As Americans take to the road during the summer months, it’s especially important for everyone to share responsibility for making our highways safer."
MFCA member companies and their Teamsters Union drivers provided hands-on safety demonstrations on Capitol Hill to illustrate for members of Congress, Congressional staff and the public what the No-Zone advice means. Drivers of large commercial vehicles cannot see vehicles in their "blind spots." The No-Zone thus comprises four general locations: The area immediately behind a large truck and within its same lane; the area immediately in front of a large truck and within its same lane; the area to the left side of a large truck, adjacent to the cab and in the adjoining lane; and the area to the right side of a large truck, behind the cab and in the adjoining lane.
By joining in the No-Zone campaign, MFCA company members and the Teamsters’ Union agreed to help bring driver education information into local communities across the nation and to display colorful, descriptive No-Zone graphics on fleet trailers.
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