Wake-Up Call

Hours-of-service regulations govern the amount of time and rest commercial drivers are required to follow. In 2003, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) issued significant revisions to the hours-of-service regulations, which had not been updated in over 60 years. FMCSA initiated the changes as part of its overall safety mission to reduce truck fatalities. The agency estimated that between 196 and 585 fatalities occur each year on the nation's roadways because of drowsy or tired commercial motor vehicle drivers. The new rules are based on current scientific research on sleep and fatigue that require more rest time for drivers, and at the same time reflect the importance of the efficient movement of commerce for the nation's economy.

As part of the regulatory review process, AAA submitted comments acknowledging all drivers have an obligation to drive responsibly and not endanger the lives and welfare of others. AAA supported revisions to the HOS regulations, urging FMCSA to develop requirements based on sound scientific research, which stress sleep, rest and operating hours factors, and which promise the ability to drive safely over all considerations, including economic.

The FMCSA estimates that the new regulations will save 75 lives, avert as many as 1,326 fatigue-related injuries, and prevent 6,900 property damage-only crashes annually, saving the American economy $628 million a year.

Additional information on the revisions is available at www.fmcsa.dot.gov.