Stoughton improved underride guards–standard “at no cost or weight penalty.”

Safety Advocacy, Truck Safety,

We just received good news from Gary Fenton, VP of Engineering at Stoughton Trailers, with the announcement that their newly-designed rear underride guard is now available, as of November 1, 2016, on all new trailers produced by and purchased from them. Gary’s email to me on December 12, was very encouraging:

“Please find attached a press release and ad sheets associated with the Stoughton move to standardize a new under ride structure, designed to widen the area of impact protection on the rear of Stoughton Trailers.  Stoughton is now standard on this new design for all straight vans (dry and reefer).  The implementation of the design as standard began on Nov. 1, 2016 (pilot run of 100 units built in August).  The inclusion of this new protection feature is standard to the customer at no cost or weight penalty.”

Stoughton Rear Underride Guard Brochure August 2016 pdf

Stoughton Trailers Introduces Underride Guard Press Release June 2016

Stoughton Safety Ad for Rear Underride Guard 10/17/16

This is good in more than one way:

  1. First of all, it means that — here on out — all new trailers purchased from Stoughton will be safer.
  2. Secondly, it means that Stoughton has set a new example for the industry in offering it as standard equipment and not merely an option.

Stoughton Trailers is one of four out of the eight major trailer manufacturers, tested recently by IIHS, which have responded to our request for voluntary improvement to their underride protection. The others are Manac (which improved their guard shortly before our crash), Vanguard, and Wabash. One more manufacturer hopes to have their upgrade crash tested early next year.

Thank you, Stoughton, and Gary Fenton, for your hard work and dedication to truly making safety a priority.

A more detailed explanation of the underride dilemma is available here: Underride Guards: Can we “sit down at the table together” and work this out? June 27, 2014

Media Coverage of the first Truck Underride Roundtable held at IIHS on May 5, 2016

Roads Safer

Once Meek Agency Flexes its Muscles. . . Likely to Face Pushback Under Trump

Safety Advocacy, ,

Will we figure out how to do more than just slap the wrist of manufacturers that put consumers at risk? Including vulnerable victims of vehicle violence?

See what is happening with the Consumer Product Safety Commission:

The Consumer Product Safety Commission is trying to change its image, one civil penalty at a time.

For decades, the federal agency largely was seen as a doormat with few resources and a toothless enforcement record. But over the past few years, under its chairman, Elliot Kaye, the CPSC has dramatically increased the penalties imposed on wayward companies, including multi-million dollar settlements with firms accused of failing to make timely disclosures of product hazards. . .

“He [Kaye] is trying to make sure that companies which previously had been including civil penalty potential as part of the cost of doing business now are at least more discouraged from doing that,” said Commissioner Robert Adler, an ally of Kaye on the commission.

But with the November 8 election of Donald Trump, who has vowed to cut business regulations, the amped up penalties could come under tough scrutiny. Kaye declined an interview request, apparently to avoid drawing the ire of Republican congressional critics with oversight of the CPSC budget, and of the incoming Trump administration. In a written statement, Kaye said the penalty policy was “intended to deter behavior that can put the safety of consumers at risk” and praised “the outstanding legal work and integrity displayed by our Office of the General Counsel.”

 Once Meek Agency Flexes its Muscles, But Likely to Face Pushback Under Trump, Fair Warning, By Brian Joseph on December 15, 2016

Life & Death

On My Way to the Road to Zero Coalition Gathering in DC

Safety Advocacy,

I am encouraged by the opportunity to gather with like-minded individuals and organizations to collaborate in a quest for traveling a road toward fewer deaths and serious injuries from preventable vehicle violence.

Road to Zero New Partnership Aims to End Traffic Fatalities Within 30 Years

In memory of AnnaLeah & Mary.

Roads Safer

“Big Companies in Legal Scrapes Turn to Science-for-Hire Giant Exponent”

Safety Advocacy,

This is unbelievable. You should take a look at it.

From Asbestos to Pesticides to Pork
Big Companies in Legal Scrapes Turn to Science-for-Hire Giant Exponent http://www.fairwarning.org/2016/12/exponent/

“Opponents say Exponent’s scientists and engineers routinely bend conclusions to the needs of clients, noting that the company in the 1990s supported the tobacco industry in denying the lung cancer risk of secondhand smoke. The firm’s forte, they say, is “doubt science”—muddying the waters by attacking research showing evidence of harm, highlighting or exaggerating scientific uncertainties about health hazards, and calling for more research to delay action. The result, critics say, is a pro-industry imprint on scientific literature.”

Doubt science. . .

Is this the group responsible for the ridiculous cost/benefit analysis of the tobacco industry which Jerry mentioned in his Public Comment on the truck underride rulemaking?! Look here: public-comment-on-the-nprm-for-rear-underride-guards-on-trailers-by-jerry-karth (see page five).

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This reminds me of a previous post about astroturfing: “Public health is about saving lives… a million at a time”. When I attempted to find the source of his quote, I stumbled upon this article by another public health expert, Dr. Arshini Daytan. I did a mental double-take when I read her quote from David Jernigan (John Hopkins) on the strategies of large corporations who actively seek to make us unhealthy. . .

Several injured in 37-vehicle pileup on I-75 in Michigan; thankfully no truck underride deaths

Safety Advocacy, Truck Safety,

Just last week, there was a pile-up of 37 vehicles in snowy conditions on I-75 in Michigan. Thankfully, there were no fatalities — plenty of totaled vehicles, I’m sure, but no fatalities.

Had there been truck underride by passenger vehicles, it could have been a whole different story.

See photos of the 37-vehicle pile-up here: Several injured in 37-vehicle pileup on I-75 near Holly Road

do-it-president-obama

UK drafts Public Service Ombudsman Bill; US should draft Traffic Safety Ombudsman Bill

Uncategorized

We in the US could take a tip from the UK drafting of a Public Service Ombudsman Bill. Will we though?

Draft Public Service Ombudsman Bill laid in Parliament, December 5, 2016, Part of Government Transparency and Accountability

A new complaints body will provide the public with greater confidence that their voices have been heard.

I believe this is the right approach to ensure every citizen knows their voice matters
and bring the Ombudsman framework into the 21st century. I look forward to scrutiny
over the coming months, and to working closely with the Parliamentary and Health
Service Ombudsman, the Local Government Ombudsman, and all those with an
interest in this matter to deliver these reforms. Draft Public Service Ombudsman Bill Cm 9374

Vehicle violence

Ombudsman for Traffic SafetyWhat are we waiting for

Traffic Safety Ombudsman Petition

Sign the Petition: End Preventable Crash Fatalities: Appoint a National Traffic Safety Ombudsman

Recent IIHS Report on Truck Crash Risk Factors Clashes With Talk of Truck Regulation Moratorium

Truck Safety

So much discussion about truck safety regulations these days. . .

On the one hand. . .

During his campaign, Trump said he supported regulatory reform and planned to issue a temporary moratorium on new agency regulations once elected. Trucking, Transportation Industries Looking for Trump Regulatory Changes

On the other hand. . .

Understanding why large trucks crash is key to developing countermeasures to reduce those crashes. New IIHS-sponsored research shows that serious vehicle defects triple the risk of being involved in a crash. Long hours behind the wheel and use of the short-haul exemption for federal hours-of-service rules also are important contributors to crashes. Safety defects and long hours contribute to large truck crashes

What will the future hold for oversight of the trucking industry? Who will be the winners and losers in this battle for control of truck safety? How many people will lose their lives or be seriously injured or lose a loved one due to a preventable truck crash in the coming years?

  • 2017
  • 2018
  • 2019
  • 2020
  • 2021
  • 2022
  • 2023
  • 2024
  • et cetera

Life & Death

Ongoing Tired Trucker (HOS) Controversy on The Hill Proves Need for Vision Zero Rulemaking

Latest IIHS Status Report shows that, “Safety defects and long hours contribute to large truck crashes”

Safety Advocacy, Truck Safety, ,

The IIHS just published the results of their study of large trucks and crash risks. Topics covered include:

  • Vehicle violations raise crash risk: Having vehicle defects of any type raised crash risk.
  • Tired truckers and short-haul exemption are factors:  Although short-haul drivers must comply with federal rules on work and rest times, they don’t have to record their service hours.

Read more here: Safety defects and long hours contribute to large truck crashes, Status Report, Vol. 51, No. 10 | December 8, 2016

Unsafe Trucks

Mary’s Life With Gertie; Her Best Friend to the End

AnnaLeah and Mary, ,

Gertie was our family’s St. Bernard. She was part of the family when Mary was born and Mary loved her — despite actually being much smaller than Gertie! We lost Gertie when she ran out in the road and got hit by a car while Mary was still a toddler.

Later, Mary had her very own beloved stuffed toy Gertie. It was her sister AnnaLeah’s idea to get Mary a St. Bernard for her four year-old birthday. Mary was delighted and, from then on, Gertie was Mary’s cherished companion — with her to the end.

Gertie reaching for Mary ...Susanna's film
Gertie reaching for Mary. . . Photoshoot by Mary’s sister Susanna, circa 2010

Gertie is a reminder to us of Mary’s joy and laughter and loving spirit. And now she is a part of Mary’s nephew Romie‘s life — carefully tended to by his parents. And so the joy & belly laughs continue.

Enjoy this glimpse of Life with Gertie.

Gertie was our family’s St. Bernard. Later, our joyful Mary had her very own beloved stuffed toy Gertie, who now keeps her nephew Romie company. And so the joy & belly laughs continue.

Mary’s grandpa, James Oliver Waldron, sings The Teddy Bear Picnic

Ongoing Tired Trucker (HOS) Controversy on The Hill Proves Need for Vision Zero Rulemaking

Safety Advocacy, Truck Safety, ,

It didn’t take me long — after our family’s tragic truck crash — to grasp the futility of lobbying on The Hill as a truck safety advocate in an attempt to push for safer roads through safer regulations.

And then I learned a secret (shh). . . DOT’s safety agencies have their hands tied by an Executive Order (12866) which requires stringent cost/benefit analysis during rulemaking that too often undervalues human life & health and effectually allows industry lobbyists to sabotage and snuff out regulations which could make our roads more safe to travel on.

In case you hadn’t noticed, the DOT agencies which were meant to be our protectors — the FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier SAFETY Administration) & NHTSA (National Highway Traffic SAFETY Administration) — have not proven to be consistently effective voices for our SAFETY.

That revelation — in combination with my own experience in wasted lobbying hours and my realization that others had tried unsuccessfully for decades before me to push for truck safety rules which might have saved my daughters — spurred me on to launch the Vision Zero Petition in 2015. It garnered over 20,000 signatures online in support of our requests for:

  1. A National Vision Zero Goal.
  2. A White House Vision Zero Task Force.
  3. A Vision Zero Executive Order to authorize Vision Zero Rulemaking (which would favor saving LIVES over saving PROFIT).
  4. An Office of National Traffic Safety Ombudsman (an independent but influential and vigilant voice for vulnerable victims of vehicle violence who could facilitate these goals).
  5. A nationwide network of Vision Zero/Traffic Safety community action/advocacy groups.

Although we took this Petition to DC in March 2016, we have not yet received a response to our requests. And, as I expected, the month of December 2016 has presented us with one more example of the need for this essential strategy: a resurrection of the Tired Trucker hours of service tug-of-war.

All of this, and more — most especially my daughters’ truck crash deaths which might have been prevented had all of this nonsense been addressed appropriately — has led to my efforts to work with others to organize a successful Truck Underride Roundtable and an upcoming Tired Trucker Roundtable.

And I really do keep hoping that a national traffic safety advocate will be appointed and Vision Zero Rulemaking will become a thing. . .

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