Monthly Archives: December 2018

How many families are feeling the loss of loved ones this Christmas because of preventable underride?

How many families are feeling the loss of loved ones this Christmas because of preventable underride? How many more must die before we solve this problem once and for all?

 

This Year & Last Year…Before & After
Existence and perception sometimes seems to have a line of demarcation [May 4, 2013]. Nothing will restore it to what it was. I have to work harder to pay attention to and be involved in the new memories–to embrace the good in the after so that it does not get lost in the longing for the before.

STOP Underrides!

The STOP Underrides! Act of 2017 Gained Another Co-Sponsor #STOPunderrides

One year ago, December 12, 2017, the STOP Underrides! Act of 2017 was introduced in both houses of the U.S. Congress. Since that day, we have educated numerous congressional offices as well as transportation industry and safety professionals.

The bill will be re-introduced in January, a Government Accountability Office (GAO) Underride Report is due to be issued in mid-February, and, on March 26, 2019, there will be an Underride Crash Test in Washington, D.C. The seeds have been planted, which we hope will soon bear fruit — leading to a mandate for comprehensive (front, side, rear) underride protection to be put on large trucks in this country.

Senator Gary Peters, from my home state of Michigan, joined other co-sponsors this past week to support the Senate version of the bill, S.2219:

Sponsor: Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY]

Sen. Rubio, Marco [R-FL]* 12/12/2017
Sen. Nelson, Bill [D-FL]* 12/12/2017
Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ] 12/13/2017
Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT] 12/14/2017
Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA] 12/18/2017
Sen. Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL] 01/29/2018
Sen. Peters, Gary C. [D-MI] 12/06/2018

The House version of the bill, HR.4622:

Sponsor: Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9]

Rep. DeSaulnier, Mark [D-CA-11]* 12/12/2017
Rep. Nolan, Richard M. [D-MN-8] 12/19/2017
Rep. Cartwright, Matt [D-PA-17] 12/19/2017
Rep. Price, David E. [D-NC-4] 03/01/2018
Rep. Lofgren, Zoe [D-CA-19] 03/01/2018
Rep. Carbajal, Salud O. [D-CA-24] 03/01/2018
Rep. Lowenthal, Alan S. [D-CA-47] 03/01/2018
Rep. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large] 09/28/2018

If you see your legislators listed, please thank them. If not, please contact them and ask them to co-sponsor the STOP Underrides! Bill  — a sure way to save lives.

Take Action Today to STOP Preventable Underride Tragedies #STOPunderrides

Most people in this country do not understand the role of underride in truck crash tragedies. Once they find out though, they get it.

Do yourself and your loved ones a favor. Take time to understand what happens when a truck and smaller passenger vehicle collide and how deadly underride can be prevented. Then, take action:

  1. Sign the STOP Underrides Petition.
  2. Share the Petition link: https://www.thepetitionsite.com/104/712/045/congress-act-now-to-end-deadly-truck-underride/
  3. Call your U.S. legislators here.

IIHS crash testing with & without a side guard: 

IIHS crash testing weak rear guard & improved rear guard: