Law Enforcement Hit North America's Highways to Save Lives

Roadcheck 2006 Takes Action Against Unsafe Truck, Bus Operators

WASHINGTON, May 23 -- Starting June 6, approximately 10,000 specially-trained and certified officers will blanket North America's roadways to prevent truck and bus accidents and save lives. Called Roadcheck 2006, federal, state, provincial and local officers will be conducting North American Standard Inspections around the clock for 72 hours from June 6 - 8 throughout North America. These inspections involve a comprehensive 37-step procedure which includes items related to vehicle, driver and cargo safety. Officers also will be giving drivers educational materials on various aspects of commercial vehicle, driver and hazardous materials safety.

As has been the case the last few years, Roadcheck 2006 will also focus on enforcement and education of safety belt use among commercial drivers. Although the latest FMCSA statistics indicate an increase in use from 48 to 54 percent, this number is still far too low. In comparison, the use rate among automobile drivers is 82 percent. During Roadcheck 2005, 1,150 safety belt violations were documented during the 3-day event, versus 755 in 2004. In all of 2005, 57,510 safety belt violations were recorded against commercial drivers.

"Roadcheck is an important reminder of the critical role these officers play every day in the health and well-being of everyone who travels the highways," said Stephen Campbell, executive director of the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA). "Lives are being saved because roadside inspections conducted by CVSA-certified inspectors take place every day throughout North America. The inspections conducted over the 3-day event in 2005 (61,278) resulted in 15 lives saved and 266 injuries avoided."

"America's economy depends on keeping people and goods moving safely through our transportation system," said US Department of Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta. "When federal, state and local law enforcement work together, through programs such as Roadcheck, we will prevent crashes and save lives."

From 2001 to 2003, roadside inspection and traffic enforcement activities on trucks and buses conducted by these certified officers saved 2,241 lives and helped to avoid 37,424 injuries and 49,126 crashes. Between 1998 and 2003, there was a 48 percent increase in the number of lives saved from these activities. There are more than 3 million North American Standard roadside inspections conducted annually.

The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance is a not-for-profit association of local, state, provincial, and federal officials responsible for the administration and enforcement of truck and bus safety laws in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Our mission is to promote commercial motor vehicle safety and security by providing leadership to enforcement, industry and policy makers. This is accomplished by establishing effective transportation safety standards for motor carriers, drivers, vehicles, and inspectors through compliance, education, training, and enforcement programs. In addition, CVSA has more than 330 associate members who are committed to helping the Alliance achieve its goals. These associate members include truck and bus companies, industry associations, insurance companies, manufacturers, safety and security product and service providers, research organizations, commercial vehicle drivers, academia, and individuals dedicated to highway safety and security. For more information on the event or CVSA visit http://www.cvsa.org/.