All posts by Marianne

“Controlling risk during crashes is an energy-management problem.”

February 7, 2016AnnaLeah and Mary, Safety Advocacy, Truck SafetyDean Sicking, NASCAR Safer Barrier, underride crash, underride researchMarianne

“Basically controlling risk during crashes is an energy-management problem. Our knowledge and understanding of energy management today is a lot better than it was in 1998. And in 1998, it was a lot better than it was in 1988.”

–DEAN SICKING

Let’s give Dean the chance to apply his expertise in NASCAR safety technology to improving truck underride protection: https://www.fortrucksafety.com/

Dean’s Underride Research Proposal: Development of Trailer Underride Preventive Measures

Printable & clickable brochure: ALMFTS Underride Guard Research Brochure

IIHS Report on truck underride crash tests and our story: IIHS Status Report October 2014

Listen to the discussion of Dean Sicking’s SAFER Barrier at Daytona, DAYTONA TO RING ENTIRE TRACK WITH SAFER BARRIER :

For more information about AnnaLeah & Mary’s story and for details about the underride guard issue, go to: https://annaleahmary.com/underride-guards/

“Death & Big Data: It’s time for NHTSA to get in on the action – in the interest of saving lives.”

February 7, 2016Safety AdvocacyNHTSA rulemaking, Vision ZeroMarianne

Roger Lanctot points to the increase in traffic fatalities in 2015 and raises timely questions:

“Nothing focuses peoples’ attention quite as effectively as death and there’s been a lot of it on U.S. highways lately. Preliminary figures released this week by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reveal that for the first nine months of 2015 traffic fatalities increased 9.3%. . .

“NHTSA’s current policies and procedures enable too much bargaining, delay and backsliding and car companies have not been cooperative. . .

“It may be time for NHTSA to step up its data reporting requirements, thereby giving car makers an excuse for gathering more data while setting the stage for improved processes for mitigating the 100-fatalities-a-day carnage on U.S. roads. Sharing a little data seems like a small price to pay to solve a big problem.

“Increased and improved data sharing, aggregation and analysis is sweeping the car industry. It’s time for NHTSA to get in on the action – in the interest of saving lives.”

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/417/742/234/save-lives-not-dollars-urge-dot-to-adopt-vision-zero-policy/

Soon to come: The Delivery of a Vision Zero Petition to Washington, DC

February 6, 2016AnnaLeah and Mary, Safety Advocacy, Truck SafetyVision Zero, Vision Zero PetitionMarianne

Our family will be delivering the almost 16,000 Vision Zero petition signatures to Washington, D.C., on Friday, March 4, 2016. At that time, we will meet with Department of Transportation policy officials to discuss our concerns and requests.

One month from now, when we head out to D.C. , we will be closing the petition. Before that happens, please help us to get as many signatures as possible.

Please sign (if you have not yet done so) and share the petition in every way you can: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/417/742/234/save-lives-not-dollars-urge-dot-to-adopt-vision-zero-policy/

The Vision Zero Petition Book will contain the almost 16,000 petition signatures & all comments. It will be delivered in print form and also available digitally.

Together we can call for

a National Vision Zero Goal: Towards Zero Crash Deaths & Serious Injuries!

Needed for an Underride Crash Test: Beat-up 53′ Box Trailer & a Chevy Malibu

February 5, 2016Safety Advocacy, Truck Safetyside underride guards, truck underride, underride crash test, underride researchMarianne

Aaron Kiefer is making plans to do a preliminary crash test of his innovative side/rear underride protection system – before taking it to the Underride Roundtable at the IIHS on May 5, 2016.

He has asked us to be on the lookout for two things which he needs for the crash test:

a used 53′ box trailer with its rear underride guard and its landing gear intact (not bent or rusted) and
an older model Chevy Malibu–from the year 2000 or younger.

If you have either one of those which you could donate (or sell for almost nothing) to make this important crash happen, please email me at marianne@annaleahmary.com.

Here is more information about Aaron’s hard work to make trucks safer to be around:

Aaron plans on using the crash test results to refine his design and make it as effective as possible. Please spread the word about this need. Thank you.

Cost-effectiveness vs Cost/Benefit Analysis & Vision Zero

February 5, 2016Safety Advocacycost benefit analysis, cost-effectiveness analysis, Vision ZeroMarianne

I am hard put to think of a better way to show the opposite, of what we are asking Obama and Foxx to do with our Vision Zero petitions, than what is being suggested here:

http://www.bloombergview.com/articles/2016-01-20/5-smart-ways-to-cut-red-tape

According to this article, Cass Sunstein apparently is encouraging the increase of cost/benefit analysis at the price of costly delays in needed safety regulations. Cost in terms of lost human lives.

We, on the other hand, are calling for suspension of overdependence on the cost/benefit analysis process–if it leads to delays and blockage of safety regulations which have been proven to save lives.

After I discussed this concern with another safety advocate, he suggested the alternative approach of cost-effectiveness analysis vs cost/benefit analysis. I have taken a quick look at a description of it online and will be thinking about it further.

“Cost–effectiveness analysis (CEA) is a form of economic analysis that compares the relative costs and outcomes (effects) of two or more courses of action. Cost–effectiveness analysis is distinct from cost–benefit analysis, which assigns a monetary value to the measure of effect.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cost-effectiveness_analysis

My question is, “Would such an approach lead to a reduction in crash deaths & serious injuries?” In other words, would it further the goal of Vision Zero? Towards Zero.

[Note to self: Look into this further.]

Weak, ineffective underride guards yield yet another underride crash–in Canada

February 3, 2016Truck Safetyunderride crash, underride guardsMarianne

Another truck underride crash. . . this time in Canada.

Oh, yes, they have the standards which we propose to match.

Truck underride crash in Canada. Stronger standard needed to reduce risk. https://t.co/OcK6mSsDr6 pic.twitter.com/vxnSisbTwH

— IIHS (@IIHS_autosafety) February 2, 2016

Monitor truck loads with a weight-identifying sensor/camera system

February 3, 2016Safety Advocacy, Truck Safetyenforcement, FMCSA regulations, safety technology, truck weight limits, Vision ZeroMarianne

If Indiana’s experiment is successful — monitoring overweight trucks by using weight-identifying sensors connected to a camera which will take a picture of their license plate — why would we not extend this enforcement technology nationwide?

http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2016/01/04/indiana-to-use-cameras-to-crack-down-on-overweight-trucks/

Here is another opportunity to utilize a Vision Zero goal for dispersing traffic safety technology to enforce federal safety regulations nationwide. . .

https://annaleahmary.com/2016/01/why-on-earth-dont-we-establish-national-traffic-safety-standards-require-them-to-be-adopted-by-states/

See this description of a New Hampshire’s motor carrier vehicle examiners/enforcement team:

“Weigh Team – Troopers assigned to the Weigh Team are responsible for enforcing state statutes as they pertain to maximum gross allowable weight limits on the roads and bridges of the state of New Hampshire. Overweight vehicles are typically more dangerous on the roads because of the extra effort needed to stop and control the overweight vehicle. Also, the damage caused to the roadways and bridges by each overweight vehicle is significantly more than legally loaded vehicles. The Weigh Team utilizes a state-of-the-art scale facility on Route 93 in Windham and portable scales to check compliance. The goal of the Weigh Team is to protect the lives of the riders traveling on New Hampshire roads while also prolonging the life of the roads and bridges.” http://www.nh.gov/safety/divisions/nhsp/fob/troopg/motorcarrier/http://www.nh.gov/safety/divisions/nhsp/fob/troopg/motorcarrier/

Why should every state reinvent the wheel? What’s the point?

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration website: https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/

Should executives be jailed for corporate crimes?

February 2, 2016Safety AdvocacyClarence Ditlow, corporate crime, criminal negligence, criminal penalties, Ralph Nader, safer roads, Vision ZeroMarianne

Should executives be jailed for corporate crimes? The Center for Auto Safety’s Clarence Ditlow thinks so.

“Ditlow says that the Volkswagen diesel case, for example, is one of the most egregious corporate crime cases in history.

“This is one of the most egregious corporate crimes I have ever seen,” Ditlow said on the Ralph Nader Radio Hour last week.”

“Jailed for Corporate Crime”

By Editor Filed in News February 1st, 2016 @ 12:31 pm

– See more at: http://www.corporatecrimereporter.com/news/200/clarence-ditlow-wants-vw-takata-and-gm-execs-jailed-for-corporate-crime/#sthash.E9vGpM8J.dpuf

Cover of book by Michael Lemov

http://www.amazon.com/Car-Safety-Wars-Technology-Politics/dp/161147745X

Other relevant posts:

A pre-trip inspection left undone can change a life forever

February 1, 2016Safety Advocacy, Truck SafetyCDL training, FMCSA Safety Regulations, pre-trip inspection, Vision ZeroMarianne

Just read the report of a truck tire which came off and hit an SUV–ending a life:

http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2016/01/27/one-critically-injured-after-tire-hits-vehicle-on-hwy-400.html

Heed the wise counsel of this driver who has a passion for writing about SAFE DRIVING. Always do thorough pre-trip inspections (by the way, commercial drivers are required by FMCSA to do them, see manual below, plus youtube videos with pre-trip instructions):

Another truck tire fatality. Are pre-trip inspections being done? They're not just for commercial drivers. More; https://t.co/KrQJwfIKd4

— Scott Marshall (@SafeDriver) February 1, 2016

Pre-trip Inspection Regulation, p. 356, FMCSA Safety Regulations

Here are some Youtube videos on how to do a pre-trip inspection:

Can electronic road signs save lives? Crash Ahead 7 Miles; Stay Alert!

February 1, 2016AnnaLeah and Mary, Safety Advocacy, Truck Safety#crashnotanaccident, electronic warning signs, Vision ZeroMarianne

I saw an electronic sign above the expressway today–informing me of a crash 7 miles ahead & warning me to stay alert.

Could such a sign — if only it had been placed on I-20 on May 4, 2013 — have alerted a certain truck driver to PAY ATTENTION , notice how the traffic had slowed down due to a crash ahead, and not hit our car?!

Vision Zero is about embracing a VISION and making a STATEMENT which would lead to decision after decision, action after action — all leading to safer conditions and choices and circumstances designed to SAVE LIVES.

https://annaleahmary.com/2016/01/why-on-earth-dont-we-establish-national-traffic-safety-standards-require-them-to-be-adopted-by-states/

This simple thing could have made all the difference in the world for AnnaLeah & Mary.