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Safety Facts and Statistics -
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ASET
wishes to remind readers of the following safety statistics
published in the US DOT Comprehensive Truck Size and Weight
Study, which was released in December, 1998.
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There would be an approximate 11% reduction in the amount
of truck vehicle miles traveled (VMT), and a corresponding
reduction in accidents, by allowing 97,000 pound six axle
trucks compared with maintaining the current 80,000 pound
weight restrictions on the Interstates.
- There would be a twenty-year pavement restoration costs
savings of nearly $2.5 billion dollars utilizing the 97,000
pound six axle truck.
- 97,000 pound six axle trucks had an approximate 5%
improvement in its Rearward Amplification during
DOT's testing compared with 80,000 pound five axle trucks.
- 97,000 pound six axle trucks had less than a 3% decrease
in its Load Transfer Ratio during DOT's testing compared
with the 80,000 pound five axle trucks.
- 97,000 pound six axle trucks had less than a 5% decrease
in Static Roll Stability in DOT's testing compared
with the 80,000 pound five axle trucks.
A
GAO Study released on June 29 of this year, (Report 99-182
Truck Safety), states that truck vehicle miles traveled (VMT)
have increased 25% in the past five years alone. This trend
is expected to continue, with resulting congestion on our
nation's highways posing serious traffic and safety problems.
Coupled with driver shortages in the motor carrier industry,
it is clear that action is needed soon to creatively address
this looming threat to our nation's productivity and driver
and passenger safety.
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ASET Plans Spring Fly-In -
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We
have begun preliminary planning for a Washington, D.C. fly-in
next spring. It will tentatively be held sometime in late
March or early April. ASET will hold briefings and schedule
meetings with Congress and their staff during the day. We
also plan to have a demonstration to illustrate the capacity
improvements that would be achieved utilizing a 97,000 pound
six axle vehicle. We will have speakers from Capitol Hill,
the trucking and shipping industries, as well as individuals
representing vital interest groups such as steel, paper, and
agriculture. We look forward to having a large, diverse group
attend the fly-in to show their support for H.R. 1667. If
you would like to learn more about this event, or would like
to participate, please call Jake Jacoby at ASET (703) 549-9467.
New
ASET Web Site -
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ASET
has completely overhauled our web site. The address is still
www.aset-safety.org but the content and design have changed.
Please take the time to view our changes and continue to check
for regular updates in our "What's New?" section. If you have
any comments or suggestions for additional materials you would
like to see posted on ASET's web site, please contact ASET.
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About
ASET -
Americans for Safe and Efficient Transportation is a
nationwide broad-based coalition of shippers, motor
carriers, and related state and national organizations
committed to delivering goods safely, efficiently and
economically. ASET supports equipment configurations
(weight and length) that properly balance American industry's
need for economic and efficient transportation with
protection of the public and the environment.
For more information or to
learn how to become involved with ASET, please contact
us at the address below.
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This
newsletter is also available in Adobe Acrobat (PDF) Format
co-sponsors
to announce their support in the coming weeks ahead. If your
company or organization supports the idea of greater productivity
in transportation policy and you would like to know how to
become more involved in this effort, contact Jake Jacoby at
ASET (703) 549-9467.