In doing research on truck safety I stumbled upon an interesting blog today titled “Truck Accidents: Could Your Vehicle Keep You Safe?"

In short, the writer’s belief is that trucks are a menace on the nation’s highways and therefore passenger vehicle drivers need to protect themselves from deadly entanglements with trucks by driving vehicles that can survive a car-truck collision. The writer states twice in the blog:

The trucking industry isn’t going anywhere any time soon, and while we can hope that some of these measures begin to drastically reduce the number of highway deaths, now is the time to make sure you’re driving the safest vehicles you possibly can.

In making his case that trucks are out of control and a danger to the occupants of cars he describes a particularly tragic accident that happened in California and then writes:

This isn’t the first time the safety of sharing our roads with oversized semi-trailer trucks has been questioned. Trucking industry practices are continuously being reformed to address the number of fatalities these vehicles cause, including reducing the amount of time a truck driver is allowed to drive without a break, instituting new methods of driver payment that do not include “paid-by-the-mile” incentives, and adding more highway patrol officers designated to specifically crack down on truck drivers that don’t keep proper log books or break traffic laws. But is it enough?

Finally he goes on to discuss which vehicles and which vehicle features are the ones automobile drivers will want to keep them safest. In other words if “the trucking industry isn’t going anywhere any time soon” these are vehicles he believes would be your best bet should you and your passengers tangle with an out of control truck.

Our response to that blog follows:

You expound an interesting point of view. Your blog reads as though you are advising readers to assure their protection by arming themselves with a vehicle that can survive a crash with a truck. Fight fire with fire, if you will.

And although that may be good advice at times, better advice all the time is to drive safely and when driving show a lot of consideration and respect for trucks and of course truck drivers. How often have you seen automobiles darting in and out of traffic around trucks, tailgating trucks, or driving beside trucks and failing to pass?

Lets keep in mind that CDL truck drivers are schooled, trained, have gone through orientation, and in the end are indeed professional drivers. Can the same be said for those that they share the nation’s roadways with? Automobile drivers are equally responsible if not more so for the majority of truck-car accidents that occur every day through the United States.

Sure, get a safe vehicle to drive your family around town in, and the next time you are on the highway with trucks - drive that safe vehicle safely.

Today at a press conference on Capital Hill American Trucking Associations revealed its new highway safety agenda.

Here is an overview of the 18 Initiatives that were outlined. For ATA's entire safety report with detailed explanations click here.

They are as follows:

Improving Driver Performance:
1. Policy on the use of non-integrated technologies while the vehicle is in motion
2. Policy supporting uniform commercial drivers license (CDL) testing standards
3. Policy supporting a CDL graduated licensing study
4. Policy supporting additional parking facilities for trucks
5. Policy supporting a national maximum 65 mph speed limit for all vehicles
6. Policy supporting strategies to increase the use of seat belts
7. Policy supporting a national car-truck driver behavior improvement program
8. Policy supporting increased use of red light cameras and automated enforcement
9. Policy supporting graduated licensing standards in all states for non-commercial teen drivers
10. Policy supporting more stringent laws to reduce drinking and driving

Safer Vehicles:
11. Policy supporting targeted electronic speed governing of certain non-commercial vehicles
12. Policy supporting electronic speed governing of all large trucks manufactured since 1992
13. Policy supporting new large truck crashworthiness standards

Safer Motor Carriers:
14. Policy supporting a national employer notification system
15. Policy supporting a national clearinghouse for positive drug and alcohol test results of CDL holders
16. Policy supporting a national registry of certified medical examiners
17. Policy supporting access to the national Driver Information Resource
18. Policy supporting required safety training by new entrant motor carriers

SOURCE : PR Newswire, American Trucking Associations

Are they obtainable?  Which ones are most important to you?