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PRESS RELEASE

AAA Announces Supprt for Regulations to Fight Commercial-Driver Fatigue

19 February 1997

AAA Supports New Regulations To Fight Commercial-Driver Fatigue

    ORLANDO, Fla., Feb. 19 -- AAA said today it supports the
Federal Highway Administration's (FHWA) efforts to update the 60-year-old
hours-of-service regulation for commercial drivers and called for innovative
solutions to the issue of commercial-driver fatigue.
    "The current regulations for commercial-driver hours of service are
outdated and need revision," said Mark L. Edwards, managing director of AAA
Traffic Safety.  "By basing new rules on current scientific data and using
modern technology to monitor driver performance, we can improve safety for
everyone on the highway."
    In calling for innovative regulations, AAA cited FHWA research that found
many factors -- including the time of day -- affect alertness as much or more
than the cumulative time on duty.  Current regulations allow commercial
operators to drive up to 10 hours after a mandatory eight-hour off-duty
period.
    AAA said that new regulations could include allowances for brief naps,
focus on actual time behind the wheel and utilize new technology that monitors
driver alertness while the vehicle is in operation.
    "While there needs to be additional research on driver fatigue, AAA
believes new regulations should go well beyond a simple count of the
cumulative hours on duty," said Edwards.  "We feel FHWA is taking the right
initial steps toward developing effective regulation of this issue."
    AAA is a not-for-profit federation of 99 motor clubs with more than
1,000 offices providing more than 39 million members in the U.S. and Canada
with travel, insurance, financial and auto-related services.

SOURCE  American Automobile Association

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CONTACT: Jerry Cheske or Mike Morrissey, both of AAA, 407-444-8000