The Rulemaking Process: A Series of Hurdles to Achieve the Goal of Stronger Underride Guards

underride guards trip to RDU 007
We have just gone over a hurdle–a very important hurdle which has set the ball rolling in the pursuit of improved standards for more effective, life-saving underride guards.

But I am reminded of what the track & field event called The Hurdles is really like. Webster’s defines hurdle like this:

” :one of a series of barriers to be jumped over in a race

the hurdles : a race in which runners must jump over hurdles

: something that makes an achievement difficult.” http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hurdle

I ran the hurdles when I was in high school. I have a scar on my knee from the cinder track to prove it (now lost amid the scars from the truck crash). What we have to remember is that going over one hurdle is not enough. Once you have successfully gone over one, you have to keep in rhythm and go after the next, and the next, and…always keeping focused on staying the course until the end.

This is what the Federal Register posting says at the end: “The agency notes that its granting of the petition submitted by Ms. Karth and the Truck Safety Coalition does not prejudge the outcome of the rulemaking or necessarily mean that a final rule will be issued. The determination of whether to issue a rule will be made after study of the requested action and the various alternatives in the course of the rulemaking proceeding, in accordance with statutory criteria.” https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2014/07/10/2014-16018/federal-motor-vehicle-safety-standards-rear-impact-guards-rear-impact-protection

Here are some links on The Rulemaking Process: https://www.federalregister.gov/uploads/2011/01/the_rulemaking_process.pdf

So, hang in there with us. We’ve got a few more hurdles to sail over. Don’t look at the waves…

The thing is…we know the goal is worthy.

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