Transportation Safety


FMCSA Won't Preempt California CMV Rest and Meal Break Rules

The agency said the petition filed in July for 11 motor carriers doesn't qualify because the California laws are not CMV safety dictates, but rather regulations applied generally to the state's employers.

Three-Month Extension Allows for Rail Security Training

The Transportation Security Administration extended the effective date of part of its Rail Transportation Security rule to April 1, 2009, to give freight railroads, shippers, and hazmat recipients time to prepare.

Massive Law Enforcement Crackdown Targets Holiday Drunk Drivers

The massive holiday crackdown intends to deter drunk driving and reduce the fatalities and injuries it causes. Between last year's Thanksgiving and New Year's holidays, 1,293 people were killed in crashes involving drivers or motorcycle operators with an illegal blood alcohol concentration of .08 or higher.

2008 Ends with Largest Continuous Decline in American Driving History

"The fact that the trend persists even as gas prices are dropping confirms that America's travel habits are fundamentally changing," said DOT Secretary Mary E. Peters.

Campaign Urges Motorists to Drive Safely this Holiday

The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund's "Drive Safely" campaign reminds motorists of steps they can take to protect law enforcement officers, other drivers and themselves.

Older Drivers Involved in Fewer Fatal Crashes

Two new studies from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety explain why the expected rise in fatal crashes involving this group did not happen from 1997 to 2006: Older drivers self-limit their driving as their cognitive abilities begin to decline.

BMW Recall Affects 28,450 Mini Cooper S Cars

NHTSA had cancelled a Dec. 17 public meeting, saying it was moot because BMW is going ahead with the recall of model year 2007 and certain MY 2008 Mini Cooper S (hardtop) vehicles demanded by the agency.

small ferry boat

Coast Guard Expanding Automatic ID System Requirements

More commercial vessels must have the systems, and notice of arrival requirements also are being expanded to cover more vessels, the agency said in Tuesday's NPRM. Comments are due by April 15.



New Entrant Carriers' ADA Compliance May Be Checked

A final rule from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration raises the stakes for motor carriers that must go through the New Entrant Safety Assurance Program.

Survey Reveals Safety Concerns of Bicycling

The survey, sponsored by the Texas Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration, was conducted entirely online. The results should help establish planning guidelines for the design of safe and efficient bicycle facilities and environments in Texas and around the country.

2008 Labor Hall of Fame inductee Leonard F. Woodcock

Former UAW President to be Inducted into Labor Hall of Fame

Leonard Woodcock spent the first decades of his career working to improve the lives of America's autoworkers and the final decades constructing an enduring relationship between the United States and China that would serve the vital interests of both countries' citizens. He and Marriott founder J. Willard Marriott will be posthumously inducted Wednesday.

Car Key Jams Teen Drivers' Cell Phone Calling, Texting Capabilities

University of Utah researchers have developed an automobile ignition key that prevents teenagers from talking on cell phones or sending text messages while driving. The university has obtained provisional patents and licensed the invention--Key2SafeDriving--to a private company that hopes to see it on the market within six months at a cost of less than $50 per key plus a yet-undetermined monthly service fee.

EDF Releases Roadmap on Greening Corporate Fleets

Environmental Defense Fund has released a five-step framework to help companies minimize the environmental impact of their corporate fleets while protecting the bottom line.

ASSE Named Administrator of ISO 'Road Traffic Safety' Standard

The current draft standard aims to keep workers safe on the road worldwide by specifying legal and other requirements for an organization's RTS management system.

lift of a shipping container

OSHA Limits Vertical Tandem Lifts to Two Empty Containers

Years of discussion, studies, and comments went into the final rule published yesterday. Taking effect April 9, 2009, it addresses maritime employers' responsibilities for providing training and designating "stand-clear zones" from vertically connected containers in motion.

ATA Unveils Trucking Safety Training Program

The series of four animated training videos and associated learning materials are designed to keep viewers engaged and thinking while reinforcing critical safety and compliance practices.

Record Low Train Accident Rate Set in 2007

But an investigation by the Los Angeles Daily News found the Metrolink commuter rail system has a far higher fatality rate than most larger systems and accounted for 39 of 61 rail passenger deaths nationwide during the past six years.

Chemical Distributors Report Decrease in Vehicular Accidents

The National Association of Chemical Distributors’ (NACD) member companies announced reportable vehicular accidents or spills decreased by almost 19 percent, and recordable injuries due to vehicular accidents or transportation spills decreased by 23.5 percent from 2006, according to the just-released 2007 NACD Membership & Performance Data Report.

FMCSA Improves Commercial Truck, Bus Drivers' Medical Requirements

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) recently announced it took new steps toward improving standards and setting uniform requirements for medical examiners, while also finalizing a streamlined process for combining the commercial driver's license (CDL) and medical certificate records for commercial truck and bus drivers operating on the nation's roads.

Cosmetics Firm Sentenced for Hazmat Transport

As part of the plea agreement, the company was ordered to pay a $350,000 fine and issue a public apology in an appropriate trade journal regarding the conviction.

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