[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 4 (Monday, January 9, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E67-E68]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION SHOULD STUDY ACCIDENTS CAUSED BY TRUCK 
                  DRIVERS FALLING ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL

                                 ______


                      HON. JAMES A. TRAFICANT, JR.

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, January 9, 1995

  Mr. TRAFICANT. Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing legislation to 
direct the U.S. Secretary of Transportation to conduct a 1-year study 
of accidents related to drivers of commercial vehicles who fall asleep 
at the wheel. The Secretary would have to make recommendations to the 
Congress on how to reduce the number of accidents related to this 
problem. I had attached this provision to legislation approved last 
year by the House to designate the National Highway System. 
Unfortunately, an agreement could not be reached between the House and 
the other body on an NHS bill, and no final action was taken in the 
last Congress.
  According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, in 1992 there 
were 33,965 accidents involving truck drivers. Of these, 601 accidents 
were traced directly to truck drivers falling asleep at the wheel--
resulting in 45 fatalities. However, in many accidents in which the 
driver is killed it is difficult to determine for sure whether or not 
the driver fell asleep. As a result, the real number of truck accidents 
related to drivers falling asleep at the wheel is more than likely much 
higher.
  The National Transportation Safety Board has estimated that when a 
heavy rig truck driver crashes and dies, an average of 4.2 innocent 
victims are killed. An ongoing survey of truck drivers in Ohio being 
conducted by the National Center for Sleep Disorders in Massillon, OH, 
has revealed that only 6 percent admit to having an accident related to 
sleepiness, but 54 percent of truck drivers surveyed know of a fellow 
truck driver who has died in an accident related to fatigue or 
sleepiness. [[Page E68]] 
  Mr. Speaker, there is a serious safety problem on our highways. My 
bill attempts to address this problem by directing DOT to study the 
problem in-depth and recommend to Congress ways to address the problem 
and reduce the number of accidents related to truck drivers falling 
asleep at the wheel.
  Last year Republicans and Democrats on the Public Works and 
Transportation Committee, of which I am a member, strongly supported 
this provision. I urge all my colleagues to lend their support to the 
bill.

                                H.R. --

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. COMMERCIAL MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENTS.

       (a) Study.--The Secretary of Transportation shall conduct a 
     study of methods to reduce accidents on Federal-aid highways 
     caused by drivers falling asleep while operating a commercial 
     motor vehicle used to transport freight.
       (b) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall 
     transmit to Congress a report on the results of the study 
     conducted under subsection (a).

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