Category Archives: Truck Safety

Do what it takes to prevent people from unnecessarily dying in motor vehicle crashes.

January 9, 2016AnnaLeah and Mary, Truck Safetygrace of God, grief, safety advocacy, tragedyMarianne

It really bothers me when people frequently suggest that someone came out of a horrible crash alive because of the grace of God. I have a hard time thinking that because the flip side would be to conclude that His grace did not bother to save my girls.

Instead, I choose to trust Romans 8:28 that He will make all things work together for good and that He will give me the grace to get through what happened. And He did allow it to happen, which has caused me a great deal of struggle with some Bible verses which talk about His angels having charge over us, etc. (For example, Psalm 91)

On the other hand, I don’t think that it is exactly what He had in mind for people to die in such tragic ways. I think that He has given us the wisdom to do our part and whenever possible to do what it takes to prevent people from unnecessarily dying from motor vehicle crashes. He doesn’t mean for us to live carelessly or irresponsibly and simply expect that our guardian angels will always take up the slack for us.

The fact of the matter is that we all have responsibility to do our part–whether it is to drive responsibly or to determine what needs to be done to make our roads safer. This can include so many things such as technology, equipment design, road design, traffic laws, safety regulations, enforcement, and criminal justice.

And so, I feel confident that He will hear my prayer when I ask for breakthroughs in safety issues and that He will lead me in the path of safety advocacy and by His Spirit move through people to bring about change. And when there is resistance and opposition, I will do all in my power to draw attention to it and shed light on the truth.

And when there is tragedy, then, as AnnaLeah’s craft project above says, “In my life, Lord, Thy will be done.”

Meanwhile, let’s join together and work Toward Zero Deaths: https://www.change.org/p/obama-adopt-a-vision-zero-goal-and-sign-an-executive-order-to-save-lives-not-dollars and http://www.thepetitionsite.com/417/742/234/save-lives-not-dollars-urge-dot-to-adopt-vision-zero-policy/

OTHER POSTS RELEVANT TO THIS DIFFICULT TOPIC: https://annaleahmary.com/tag/safety/

“Does Vision Zero work? The Swedish Experience”

January 9, 2016Truck SafetyVision ZeroMarianne

Go here to read how Vision Zero has been working in Sweden: http://www.visionzeroinitiative.com/en/Concept/Does-the-vision-zero-work/

Go here to cast your vote to bring about a national Vision Zero in the U.S: https://www.change.org/p/obama-adopt-a-vision-zero-goal-and-sign-an-executive-order-to-save-lives-not-dollars and http://www.thepetitionsite.com/417/742/234/save-lives-not-dollars-urge-dot-to-adopt-vision-zero-policy/

Let’s move away from an attitude that traffic fatalities are inevitable to a conviction that this rampant carnage can be checked. Toward Zero Crash Deaths & Serious Injuries.

Now a Hotel Locator for Truckers. . . a tool to make your life just a little bit easier.

January 9, 2016Truck Safetytruck parkingMarianne

And here is another helpful resource for truckers who need a place to sleep: http://www.365trucking.com/staysmarter

Finally a Hotel Locator for Truckers with horsepower. 365trucking.staysmarter.com is powered by a intelligent search engine built by the leaders in the Hotel Industry. 365Trucking.com is proud announce a new partnership with Staysmarter.com exclusively for the Trucking community.

StaySmarter is taking years of Hotel experience and relationships with every major Hotel chain and combining all that knowledge with getting Truckers to their hotel quickly, safely and cost effectively

Help for truckers: Overnight Truck Parking App

January 9, 2016Truck Safetytruck parkingMarianne

Here is another truck parking solution: http://roadbreakers.com/

**WE HAVE ONE GOAL: HELP YOU FIND OVERNIGHT TRUCK (AND RV) PARKING NEAR & FAR. AND MAKE IT FUN.**

iOS & Android. No internet required to find parking. Data stored locally on your device but capable of automatic live update over the network. Post comments about specific overnight truck parking locations. Help out by submitting new overnight truck parking locations. Report problems with a specific parking location. Map view & list view of nearby parking locations. Feel like chatting? Post & view user comments within the app!

More areas for long-haul trucks to park could help prevent some crashes

January 8, 2016Truck Safetytruck parkingMarianne

I have previously written about the need for parking for long-haul trucks. https://annaleahmary.com/tag/truck-parking/

I read these recommendations about this need today: http://www.underridenetwork.org/safe-and-legal-truck-and-car-parking-in-the-u-s/

Deadly Yet Preventable? Why Front Underride or Front Underrun is Important

January 8, 2016Truck Safetyfront underride, underride crashMarianne

We included a request to address front underride in our AnnaLeah and Mary Stand Up For Truck Safety Petition. The response was that they would issue a separate decision on it at a future time:

Grant Of Petition For Rulemaking.
SUMMARY
By initiating rulemaking to consider enhancing related safety standards, this notice grants the part of the petition for rulemaking submitted by Ms. Marianne Karth and the Truck Safety Coalition (Petitioners) requesting that the agency improve the safety of rear impact (underride) guards on trailers and single unit trucks. Based on the petition, available information, and the agency’s analysis in progress, NHTSA has decided that the Petitioners’ request related to rear impact guards merits further consideration. Therefore, the agency grants the Petitioners’ request to initiate rulemaking on rear impact guards. NHTSA is planning on issuing two separate notices—an advanced notice of proposed rulemaking pertaining to rear impact guards and other safety strategies for single unit trucks, and a notice of proposed rulemaking focusing on rear impact guards on trailers and semitrailers. NHTSA is still evaluating the Petitioners’ request to improve side guards and front override guards and will issue a separate decision on those aspects of the petition at a later date.

https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2014/07/10/2014-16018/federal-motor-vehicle-safety-standards-rear-impact-guards-rear-impact-protection

Steve Hadley, Underride Network, has posted on the front underride issue. He says that,

“Front low-speed crashes with VRU (Vulnerable Road Users) are quite survivable with proper design.”

Read more about this issue here: http://www.underridenetwork.org/why-front-underride-or-underrun-is-important/

Why Front Underride or Front Underrun is Important (Deadly yet preventable?)

January 8, 2016AnnaLeah and Mary, Truck Safetyfront underride, front underrun, underride crash fatalities, underride crashesMarianne

We included a request to address front underride in our AnnaLeah and Mary Stand Up For Truck Safety Petition. The response was that they would issue a separate decision on it at a future time:

https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2014/07/10/2014-16018/federal-motor-vehicle-safety-standards-rear-impact-guards-rear-impact-protection

Read more about this issue here: https://annaleahmary.com/tag/front-underride-protection/

It’s exhausting trying to move a mountain.

January 8, 2016Truck Safetycrash fatalities, griefMarianne

Did another Skype interview today with a TV reporter who had done an investigation of the underride problem in 2012. Almost 4 years ago and not much has changed since then. And it was before our crash. And his was just one of many broadcasts which have pointed out that something needs to be done about the underride problem!

Is it too much to understand that this neglect of a sorely-needed safety measure which has led to countless unnecessary deaths is very appalling, distressing, and frustrating?

I am glad for the progress being made in rulemaking, but my heart grieves for all the lost lives and the broken-hearted families who have to continue dealing with the senselessness of it all. It just doesn’t go away.

So, I shouldn’t be surprised that it was exhausting trying to move a mountain today and that the loss of thousands and the heartache of countless more is weighing me down.

MV-TRAFFIC-FATALITIES(1899-2009)

Truck Crash Fatality Chart

The LORD will give strength to His people; The LORD will bless His people with peace.
I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; yes, wait for the LORD.

(Psalm 27 & 29)

Actions here & there throughout the U.S. chipping away at causes of traffic deaths

January 7, 2016AnnaLeah and Mary, Truck Safetyroad safety, Vision ZeroMarianne

As far as I’m concerned, decisions and actions to reduce crash fatalities are too often too little too late. So, while I’m thankful for the good things that are happening, as a mom of 2 girls who died too young, I think that there are too many delays and not enough priority assigned to Vision Zero activities.

Maybe if everyone working on these things had lost someone close to them (oh, I hope not), then they would be as tenacious and impatient as me.

And after reading some safety news today, I was thinking that perhaps things would also move faster if there were more opportunities for organizations throughout the country (and internationally) to share ideas so that no one would have to re-invent the wheel.

Wouldn’t that help things move along faster?

Some things I read today:

Virginia Tech Transportation Institute wins $2.5 million contract for trucker safety study http://www.vtnews.vt.edu/articles/2015/12/121515-vtti-fmsca.html
After cycling deaths, a plea for truck safety guards http://trucksafety.org/after-cycling-deaths-a-plea-for-truck-safety-guards/ and Friends, family of victims push for new bike safety laws http://www.myfoxboston.com/news/friends-family-of-victims-push-for-new-bike-safety-laws/13416151
Task force recommendations delayed despite surge in traffic fatalities http://www.mystatesman.com/news/news/local-govt-politics/task-force-recommendations-delayed-despite-surge-i/npyCb/

“Just sayin’,” Mary might have said.

Sign our Vision Zero Petition: https://www.change.org/p/obama-adopt-a-vision-zero-goal-and-sign-an-executive-order-to-save-lives-not-dollars

Obama: “We can’t accept this carnage” Let’s apply that sentiment toward preventable highway carnage.

January 6, 2016AnnaLeah and Mary, Truck Safetyhighway carnage, Vision Zero, Vision Zero Executive OrderMarianne

I am counting on President Obama’s statements related to gun violence also being applied toward the ongoing public health problem of traffic fatalities (or more clearly, people being killed on the road).

First I read Obama’s statement, “If there’s even one thing we can do, if there’s just one life we can save—we’ve got an obligation to try.” And now I hear that he is saying, “We can’t accept this carnage. . .”

How about the highway carnage? “One of America’s more egregious public health afflictions, deaths and injuries in car crashes, is being massively ignored.” – See more at: http://www.fairwarning.org/2012/09/a-strange-indifference-to-highway-carnage/#sthash.AI0IcziI.dpuf

That article also informs us, “Despite more than 30,000 deaths and more than 2.2 million crash injuries per year, highway safety has largely fallen off the political radar screen. Since 1965, when President Lyndon Johnson publicly confronted a hostile auto industry by demanding, and getting, new laws governing the safety of automobiles, more than two million Americans have died of crash injuries. Since then no president has taken a forceful public stand in favor of strong government action to counter the death toll.”

I’d say it’s time to take a stand, President Obama. Set a national Vision Zero goal and sign a Vision Zero Executive Order.

https://www.change.org/p/obama-adopt-a-vision-zero-goal-and-sign-an-executive-order-to-save-lives-not-dollars