Preventing highway accidents is of course a very important goal. However, it is also important for law enforcement officials and those involved in the accident to be able to determine what really happened and who was at fault. Provisions of the new federal highway bill could potentially help with both.
The Senate Commerce Committee recently approved the Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Enforcement Act (which is part of the larger federal highway bill now making its way through Congress). The current version of the bill includes these safety and record-keeping enhancements, among others:
- A requirement that trucks and buses be equipped with Electronic On-Board Recorders. These recorders synch with GPS systems to determine when truckers are driving, which prevents them from violating federal rules that require certain hours of rest before getting back behind the wheel. This means fewer fatigued truckers on our nation's highways, and could mean more reliable records of how a driver spent his or her time before getting into a crash.
- Creation of a new federal clearinghouse for drug and alcohol test results for drivers. This would allow potential employers to have greater assurances that the drivers they hire have not tested positive for alcohol on the job or drug abuse in the past three years. This information would also be available to state and federal licensing agencies.
- For the first time, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration would develop a written proficiency exam for new drivers, as well as a system for notifying employers of driving violations.
These record-keeping requirements are greatly needed, but it's too early in the legislative process to tell whether those injured in an accident will be able to access these driver safety records. This is an important consideration, and one that anyone concerned with highway safety should take up with his or her congressional representatives.
The bill was approved by the Senate Commerce Committee in mid-December, but must still be approved by the Banking and Finance Committees before it can be voted on by the entire Senate. That's to say nothing of similar actions that will be taken by the House when it considers the bill. Thus, it may be some time before these important safety provisions are implemented on our nation's highways.
An Attorney Can Help
If you are injured in a truck or commercial vehicle accident, you may be entitled to recover damages. An experienced attorney can review your situation and advise you about the best method to recover compensation for your injuries.
