Commerical Truck Safety Sweep Reveals Potential Danger to Oregon Drivers
The Oregonian reports that a safety sweep of 245 commercial trucks entering Oregon resulted in removal of 37 trucks and 40 drivers for "critical safety violations" for the trucks, and other safety violations involving the drivers. If this were a valid sample of all the trucks in Oregon, you could say that about 15% of commercial trucks in Oregon have some "critical safety" problem. That is alarming. Even more frightening is the fact that three of truck drivers were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol.
This week, the US Department of Transportation is hosting a conference to discuss the growing problem of distracted drivers. The trucking industry is fighting to keep in cab computer use out of any regulations. The trucking lobby's argument is that the screens are bigger, and the trucker pulls over to use the computer. My favorite quote in the article comes from a trucker, an honest trucker:
“We’re supposed to pull over, but nobody ever does.”
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