Welcome to the Truck Safety Coalition

To view all of the content on this site you will need to download the newest Macromedia Flash Player

OTHER ISSUES

U.S. Transportation Secretary Mineta Applauds Contributions of Truck Drivers

On August 16, 2002, U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta recognized the safety, security and economic contributions of America's truck drivers, who celebrated the 2002 National Truck Driver Appreciation Week from August 18-24.

In a Department of Transportation press release, Secretary Mineta recognized the trucking industry as an essential component of the American economy and expressed appreciation to the more than 10 million men and women who work in the industry.

Parents Against Tired Truckers would also like to express our deepest appreciation for those men and women who put their lives on the line each day to ensure the delivery of goods throughout America. However, where Secretary Mineta's press release escaped all lines of reasoning was when he began to praise the trucking industry for its "safety record" in 2001.

Secretary Mineta applauded the industry for a drop in fatalities in crashes involving large trucks from 5,282 in 2000 to that of 5,082 in 2001. He then went on to say that he hopes to "see even greater progress in safety for 2002 and the years ahead."

Contrary to what Secretary Mineta stated in this press release, the recorded 5,082 fatalities is not a 26-year record low. In fact, in 1992 there were roughly 4,500 recorded fatalities. And since 1992, the annual truck crash related fatalities has been near or exceeded 5,000.

Yes, the trucking industry does contribute significantly to the U.S. economy. But what is the cost? Large truck crash related fatalities account for 12% of all crash fatalities while only representing 4% of total registered vehicles.

The fact is, until legislation is in place that prevents the trucking industry from doing business at a toll of 5,082 human lives, the cost will continue to rise. Truckers and the general public are routinely placed in harms way in order to move products as quickly as possible. Life threatening situations are constantly being created because of the blind greed of trucking industry leaders who will do anything, including jeopardizing the lives of truckers, in order to turn a profit.

Secretary Mineta also mentions the Highway Watch program, in which professional truck drivers are enlisted to report incidents that threaten highway safety. The American Trucking Association (ATA) in partnership with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) administers Highway Watch. The FMCSA provided $775,000 to the ATA to administer this program.

To Secretary Mineta, DOT officials and the FMCSA, a piece of advise. If you are truly interested in affecting change and improving large truck safety on our roadways, DON'T PAY THE FOX TO GUARD THE CHICKEN COOP.