"We believe that tax credits will accelerate the availability of important safety-enhancing technologies to heavy vehicle operators and fleets," said Ann Wilson, MEMA's vice-president of government affairs. MEMA is the largest and oldest trade association of automotive and heavy-duty truck product manufacturers in the United States.
The legislation, H.R. 3820, which was introduced by Congressman Mike Thompson (D-Calif.), Congressman Ron Lewis (R-Kent.), Congressman Heath Shuler (D-N.C.), Congressman Steve LaTourette (R-Ohio), Congressman Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.), Congressman Sander Levin (D-Mich.), Congresswoman Ellen Tauscher (D-Calif.) and Congressman Mike Rogers (R-Mich.) will offer heavy-duty vehicle owners a wider range of safety equipment that will meet their fleet's specific needs.
"With over 700,000 registered motor carriers traveling on our highways, accidents are bound to occur. Technology has been developed that would significantly reduce the incidence of accidents involving heavy-duty vehicles. This legislation creates incentives to install these technologies on large trucks, local buses and school buses, which will help improve road safety," said Congressman Mike Thompson.
"Kentucky highways are vital to interstate commerce throughout the nation's heartland. Unfortunately, these well-traveled roads are too often the site of major accidents. This legislation is a step in the right direction toward making our highways in Kentucky and across the nation safer," said Congressman Lewis. "I look forward to working with Rep. Mike Thompson and my colleagues on the Committee on Ways and Means to move this important legislation forward."
According to the Department of Transportation, there were more than 5,000 individuals killed and 114,000 injured on our nation's highways in accidents involving heavy-duty vehicles in 2005.
According to Wilson, a 2006 study released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) identified specific causes for heavy vehicle crashes. That study finds that rear end collisions, side swipe accidents, running off the road or out of the lane and brake problems account for over 60 percent of the total large vehicle accidents.
Wilson highlights that heavy duty vehicle suppliers are manufacturing technologies that will address these specific types of accidents including collision warning systems, lane departure warning systems, vehicle stability systems and brake stroke monitoring systems.
