UPDATE: P.A.T.T. and CRASH Score Huge Victory in Truck Safety
U.S. DOT Agrees to Issue Long-Overdue Truck Safety Rules
Dear Truck Safety Supporter,
Last November, P.A.T.T. and CRASH filed a lawsuit with the U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C. because the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) failed to meet congressional deadlines for addressing and issuing safety rules. We are proud to announce that the DOT has entered into a settlement agreement to issue a series of vital truck safety rules mandated by Congress, some of which are 10 years overdue.
We all know that precious lives have been lost while the DOT delayed and disregarded directives from Congress to act on important life-saving truck safety rules. Finally, after years of perseverance and hard work, progress is being made. Unfortunately, it took a lawsuit to compel the agency to do its job – protect the public’s safety. It took truck safety advocates filing a lawsuit to compel the federal agency to do its job – protect the safety of the motoring public.
In addition to P.A.T.T. and CRASH, Daphne Izer (Founder and Co-Chair of P.A.T.T.), Jennifer Tierney and Tami Friedrich (Survivors Network Volunteers for CRASH) filed as individual plaintiffs in order to strengthen our claim that safety must come before the political interests and economic gains of the trucking industry.
As you may know, P.A.T.T. and CRASH joined forces in March 2002 to create the Truck Safety Coalition and both organizations relocated to Washington, D.C. Our goal is simple — to combine resources and energies to bring the voices of truck crash victims and safety advocates to our nation’s capital. It is critical to our cause to position ourselves where decisions are made by Members of Congress and federal government officials on a wide range of truck safety issues. Collective and collaborative efforts, as shown by this lawsuit, illustrate that working together we can all save lives.
Under the agreement the U.S. DOT will issue final rules pertaining to:
- Truck driver fatigue and required rest periods, hours-of-service and other fatigue-related issues. The DOT estimates that 755 fatalities and 19,705 injuries result from fatigued drivers each year on U.S. roads, but the agency is now nearly four years late in issuing the rule. The DOT has agreed to issue this rule no later than May 31, 2003.
- Minimum training standards for entry-level drivers of commercial motor vehicles. Congress required DOT to issue a final rule by Dec. 18, 1993, more than 10 years ago. DOT has promised to issue a final rule by May 31, 2004.
- Minimum training requirements for drivers of longer-combination vehicles (multi-trailer rigs). Congress had set a Dec. 18, 1993, deadline for a final rule. DOT has agreed to issue a rule no later than March 30, 2004.
- Requirements for authorization to transport hazardous materials. The DOT is more than 11 years late in issuing this rule, which has security implications highlighted by the 2001 terrorist attacks. The agency has promised to issue this rule by June 30, 2004.
- Background checks for new commercial drivers, including what information prospective employers are required to obtain and what information prior employers are required to provide. This rule is now four years late. DOT has agreed to issue this rule no later than March 30, 2004.
The success of this lawsuit reveals the critical need for P.A.T.T. and CRASH to be involved in the public policy debate in Congress, the Executive Branch and the Judiciary. Special interests advancing the trucking industry agenda would like nothing better than to silence the voice of victims and safety advocates in the public debate. We are here to ensure this never happens! Our success depends on your continued commitment to make truck safety a priority. It is only through your gifts of time and money that P.A.T.T. and CRASH can continue to effect positive change. Let’s celebrate and cheer this significant victory.
Here is a copy of the settlement agreement.
To be removed from P.A.T.T.’s E-mail update list, please contact us at PATT@patt.org
For more information, please contact Parents Against Tired Truckers at:
P.A.T.T.
PO Box 14380
Washington, DC 20044-4380
(888) 353-4572
Latest Information From P.A.T.T.!
PARENTS AGAINST TIRED TRUCKERS UPDATE
2003 Sorrow to Strength Conference Scholarship Applications Available
P.A.T.T. and CRASH are incredibly excited to announce the return of our most popular and widely supported program, the 2003 Sorrow to Strength conference. This 6th national conference of truck crash survivors is scheduled for Friday, September 12 – Tuesday, September 16, 2003 in Washington, D.C., and all those who are concerned about truck safety on our nation’s highways are invited to attend.
We are equally excited to announce that there are several half ($400) and full ($800) scholarships available for attending the conference for those who have a need.
To learn more about the 2003 Sorrow to Strength conference, or to apply for a scholarship, please visit our Web site at http://www.patt.org and click on the Sorrow to Strength link.
Downloadable and online registration materials and applications are available on our Web site, or you can E-mail us at StoS2003@aol.com to receive them directly.
Sorrow to Strength will be: challenging, as it helps us to confront complex personal emotions and embrace the courage to fight; supportive, as it solidifies our group even though we are spread out all over the country; and most importantly, strengthening our resolve to save lives and prevent injuries.
Over the past years we have made tremendous strides in making truck safety an important issue nationally, with the media and within transportation agencies at both the state and federal levels. We cannot afford to let another year pass without continuing to bring our truck safety issues to our elected officials!
For more information, please contact Parents Against Tired Truckers at:
P.A.T.T. PO Box 14380 Washington, DC 20044-4380 (888) 353-4572
