AAA Makes Push for Highway Safety; Seeks Stiffer Penalties for Trucks Exceeding Weight Limits

    SANFORD, Fla.--March 24, 2003--Members of the House Subcommittee on Highways, Transit and Pipelines, heard testimony today on critical highway safety issues expected to impact the trucking industry and possibly the reauthorization of TEA-21 (Transportation Equity Act of the 21st Century).
    Rep. Thomas E. Petri, (R-WI), chairman of the subcommittee, and Rep. John L. Mica (R-FL, District 7); FL, heard from key organizations and experts on transportation as part of a series of hearings on trucking, mass transit and transportation funding. Mica is the most senior member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and he is chairman of the House Aviation Subcommittee.
    "There are few issues that resonate with AAA members more than those relating to truck safety, and the facts bear out this concern: 5082 people killed in crashes involving cars and large trucks in 2001; another 131,000 injured," said Kevin Bakewell, senior vice president, AAA Auto Club South, the regional AAA club (for FL, GA and western TN) representing 3.5 million of AAA's over 45 million members nationwide.
    According to a recent AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety study, when a car gets into a crash with a truck, the car driver is much more likely to die than truck driver. Car drivers accounted for nearly 98% of the driver fatalities and truck drivers accounted for only 2%.
    "Some in the trucking industry promote the idea that "bigger is better" when it comes to meeting the demands of moving freight. AAA will vigorously oppose such action. Larger, longer and heavier trucks create serious safety hazards and accelerate the deterioration of highway pavement and bridges. An 80,000 pound semi-trailer truck places a load equal to 9,600 cars on the roads. Adding 15,000 pounds to that can double the amount of damage to the nations' highways."
    "AAA supports the Safe Highways and Infrastructure Preservation Act as a reasonable measure to preserve all roadways of national importance. This bill, expected to be reintroduced shortly, would extend existing interstate weight limits to the National Highway System. It does not roll-back current state laws; it simply shifts to Congress an appropriate national jurisdiction over any proposed increases affecting the National Highway System," said Bakewell.
    "Finally, the burden placed on state enforcement agencies will continue to increase, particularly with more trucks entering from Mexico. AAA urges Congress to work with industry representatives and state governments to provide increased support for programs like the Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program (MCSAP) which helps states conduct roadside driver and commercial motor vehicle inspections, traffic and drug enforcement and educational activities."
    Bakewell added, "What we clearly do need is assistance from Congress toward better enforcement and stiffer penalties for those who violate the existing federal limitations. In Florida and other states, penalties for illegal operation of overweight trucks have become nothing more than a cost of doing business.
    The fines have not been increased since 1953. "Increasing the fines for overweight trucks will act as a deterrent for those who intentionally violate the law; thereby helping to preserve the nation's investment in its transportation system," said Bakewell.
    In Florida, Rep. Ed Jennings, (D-Gainesville, HB 503) and Senator Les Miller (D-Tampa, SB202) have already introduced legislation to increase penalties for overweight trucks.
    As North America's largest motoring and leisure travel organization, AAA provides its nearly 46 million members with travel, insurance, financial and automotive-related services. Since its founding in 1902, the not-for-profit, fully-tax-paying AAA has been a leader and advocate for the safety and security of all travelers. AAA clubs can be visited on the Internet at: http://www.aaa.com.