PRESS-NEWS.org - Press Release Distribution
PRESS RELEASES DISTRIBUTION

CSA Aims to Curb Trucking Accidents

The Comprehensive Safety Analysis (CSA 2010) is designed to limit the number of serious trucking accidents.

2010-10-01
October 01, 2010 (Press-News.org) Trucking companies and their drivers have been preparing for a new safety initiative that will have a major impact on the industry. The Comprehensive Safety Analysis (CSA 2010) is designed to limit the number of serious trucking accidents. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration created the program to find unsafe drivers and companies before they cause serious injuries to other drivers by using a three-part process consisting of measurement, evaluation and intervention.

The CSA will be rolled out to states throughout the next year. New Jersey was part of the testing on the new initiatives, with half of the trucking companies using the new guidelines during 2010 and half serving as a control group to determine the effectiveness of the new rules. According to Federal Motor Carrier Association statistics, there were over 3,200 people injured in New Jersey truck accidents in 2009. The number of fatal truck accidents has remained relatively stable over the past ten years, which led to a renewed emphasis toward improving safety.

Taking a Comprehensive Picture

The Safety Management System (SMS) is the measurement component of the CSA. It will be used to examine a carrier's safety records using the BASICs (Behavior Analysis and Safety Improvement Categories) point system. A point value of 1-10 is assigned to violations, with 10 being the most serious. BASICs measures seven different categories. More recent violations will weigh higher than older incidents. The BASICs categories that will measure the fleet include:
- Unsafe driving - speeding, other traffic violations
- Fatigued driving - driving too many hours, not keeping proper logs
- Driver fitness - driver must be properly certified
- Alcohol or controlled substance use - including over-the-counter medication used improperly
- Vehicle maintenance - the equipment must meet regulatory standards
- Improper loading/unsecured cargo - drivers will be held responsible for any loads they carry
- Prior accident history/accident indicators - checking driving history of employees

Every month the carriers' safety records will be examined, looking back over the preceding 24 month period. Carriers that show deficiencies in certain BASICs categories will be notified by the FMCA. If necessary, the agency and the carrier may work together to form a plan to improve performance. If the violations are severe and the plan is unsuccessful, it is possible that the carrier may be ordered off the road. Drivers will also be measured using the BASICs criteria, but will not receive an individual safety rating made available to the public. Driver data will be examined for 36 months instead of 24. The numbers will be used by FMCA when investigating individual carriers.

Addressing the Causes of Truck Accidents

There is no one single cause of truck accidents. Drivers may be speeding or fatigued. Trucks may not be safe for highway travel. The CSA does not attempt to solely eliminate one issue, but rather forces drivers and carriers to focus on the big picture. For truck drivers, major changes are coming. Speeding has long been a cause of truck accidents. Under the old rules, if a driver was given a warning for speeding, this did not count against the driver or the company. Under the CSA, a warning is treated just like a citation. There is no difference between the two for BASICs purposes. Drivers will also be held responsible for their cargo, even if they did not load the truck themselves.

Carriers and drivers must also be sure that their 18-wheelers are properly maintained. Drivers need to be able to control their trucks. The CSA is placing a special emphasis on the condition of a vehicle's tires. Tire violations will rate much higher than other truck equipment. Tires must have the proper tread, and carriers must replace any tires that are damaged. In the past, these were treated as minor violations, and usually did not result in any agency action. These violations will now remain on a carrier's record and could result in penalties if not resolved.

Impact of the New Rules

The agency feels that the CSA will help to remove unsafe drivers from behind the wheel. With carriers having more access to driver information during the screening process, it is hoped that companies will be encouraged to employ drivers that have safe driving histories. Existing employees will also receive extensive training on compliance with the new initiatives.

If you have been injured in a truck accident, working with an experienced attorney can help you examine the carrier's safety history. Determining if the organization is in compliance with the CSA can be important to your case. Carriers will want to resolve the matter quickly with as little impact as possible to their bottom line. You will want to know what options are available to you as you recover from your injuries. With the potential for serious injuries, or the wrongful death of a loved one, it is essential to learn the safety record of the company involved in the accident.

Article provided by Law Offices of Michael P. Burakoff, P.A.
Visit us at www.burakofflaw.com


ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

The H-1B Visa and Its Impact on Foreign Relations

2010-10-01
America's H-1B Visa allows qualified foreign workers temporary entry into the United States for the purpose of undertaking employment. The H-1B Visa also entitles a worker's spouse and children to live in America, and is one of the most sought after non-immigrant visas. However, this visa only applies to foreign workers who meet certain criteria, and unlike many other visa programs, an American employer must petition United States Citizenship and Immigration Services ("USCIS") on behalf of a prospective foreign employee. Despite the complications involved in an H-1B ...

Burn Injuries: The Tragic Aftermath of Fires in the Home

2010-10-01
On the morning of September 7, the Colorado Springs Fire Department responded to a house fire on Annanhill Place road. When firefighters arrived at the scene, they discovered that the homeowner, Nam Nyugen, had jumped from a second story window to escape his burning home. Nyugen suffered horrific injuries from the fire, as agonizing burns covered more than 50 percent of his body. The cause of the Colorado Springs fire is still under investigation, but reports from Nyugen's wife make it sound like the fire began in the upstairs bedroom. She told reporters that she heard ...

The Gray Divorce: Baby Boomers Are Ending Marriages Later in Life

2010-10-01
News this summer that the 40-year marriage of Al and Tipper Gore is coming to an end underscores a recent trend in American matrimony: couples who have made it through decades of family rearing and career building are parting ways in unprecedented numbers. American baby boomers are splitting up at three times the rate of their Greatest Generation parents. And statistics reveal that women in this demographic are far more motivated to dissolve their unions than their husbands. A recent survey of divorce professionals in the United States and Canada conducted by the Association ...

Can the Chicken Safely Cross the Road? Confusion Over Crosswalks

2010-10-01
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that, on average, a pedestrian is injured in a traffic crash every eight minutes. In addition, studies show that there is confusion among pedestrians and drivers when determining who has the right of way at intersections. This confusion, along with other problems, likely contributes to the high number of pedestrian injuries and deaths from auto accidents. Pedestrian and Driver Confusion About the Right of Way According to a Transportation Research Board study, less than half of the drivers and pedestrians ...

Successful Business Succession: Preserving and Passing on Wealth

2010-10-01
The day-to-day fight for survival often consumes much of a small business owner's time and energy. Little is left over for thoughts of retirement and plans for passing the business on to another. However, a sound business succession plan is crucial to preserving a business owner's life's work and wealth. Every day brings a business owner closer to the time when they hand over the business to an heir, spouse, partner, or other person or entity. As with almost all successful business ventures, planning is key to proper execution of succession. First Step The first ...

Preventing Sleep-Deprived Driving for Commercial Truck Drivers

2010-10-01
Howard Fields, a 60-year-old truck driver, was on a trip that took him through Atlanta on Interstate 75. In the early hours of the morning, his truck slammed into another tractor-trailer. The incident ended Fields' 21-year trucking career and cost his company half a million dollars. An investigation of the crash revealed that Fields had been asleep for almost five miles before the crash occurred. Sleep deprivation is to blame for almost 100,000 motor vehicle accidents and 1,550 fatalities per year in the United States, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety ...

Bicycle Accidents and Florida's No-Fault Insurance Law

2010-10-01
On an early September afternoon, eight-year-old Elian Rojas was riding his bike home from school with his father when he was struck by a delivery truck at the corner of 13th Road and Jog Road in Greenacres, Florida. When paramedics arrived at the scene, it was already too late; Rojas was pronounced dead. The delivery truck, owned by RecoverCare, just finished making a delivery at the nearby Woodlake Nursing and Rehab Center before the fatal accident occurred. Neighbors who live near the corner where Rojas was killed told reporters that the corner is known for having ...

Mediation Now Mandatory in Connecticut Med Mal Cases

2010-10-01
A new Connecticut law went into affect July 1st that requires parties in a medical malpractice action to attend at least one session of mandatory mediation before moving forward with the lawsuit. The mandatory mediation requirement was included in a broader patients' rights bill (SB 248) signed by Governor M. Jodi Rell. The New Bill Under the new law, the presiding judge is required to refer medical malpractice cases to a 120-day period of mediation, or another form of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) of the parties' choosing. The mediation must be completed ...

Warriors and Warbirds Air Show Hotel in Monroe NC Offers Nearby Lodging for the Event

Warriors and Warbirds Air Show Hotel in Monroe NC Offers Nearby Lodging for the Event
2010-10-01
Super 8 Monroe North Carolina Hotel offers convenient and affordable accommodations to visitors coming into town to attend the Warriors and Warbirds Air Show. The popular event will be held the weekend of November 6-7, 2010 at the Charlotte-Monroe Executive Airport. The gates open at 9:00am and the flying begins at 12:30pm. The airport is only 10 minutes from this Monroe North Carolina Hotel. Monroe is a southeastern suburb of Charlotte and is near the South Carolina border. The Warriors and Warbirds Air Show is one of the largest aviation events in the area. Several ...

Leading Perimeter Hotel Announces Great Rates for Government Employees

2010-10-01
Sheraton Atlanta Perimeter Hotel North, located near Dunwoody, GA, announces a new special savings package for government employees to enjoy. Guests with a valid Government ID are eligible to receive special treatments and great rates. The savings special includes: - Rates from $129 a night - Breakfast for two - High-speed Internet access - Complimentary shuttle service within a five mile radius of our Perimeter Mall hotel "Conveniently situated only 15 miles north of downtown Atlanta and easily accessible from all major Georgia highways, the Sheraton Atlanta Perimeter ...

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:

Wildlife monitoring technologies used to intimidate and spy on women, study finds

Around 450,000 children disadvantaged by lack of school support for color blindness

Reality check: making indoor smartphone-based augmented reality work

Overthinking what you said? It’s your ‘lizard brain’ talking to newer, advanced parts of your brain

Black men — including transit workers — are targets for aggression on public transportation, study shows

Troubling spike in severe pregnancy-related complications for all ages in Illinois

Alcohol use identified by UTHealth Houston researchers as most common predictor of escalated cannabis vaping among youths in Texas

Need a landing pad for helicopter parenting? Frame tasks as learning

New MUSC Hollings Cancer Center research shows how Golgi stress affects T-cells' tumor-fighting ability

#16to365: New resources for year-round activism to end gender-based violence and strengthen bodily autonomy for all

Earliest fish-trapping facility in Central America discovered in Maya lowlands

São Paulo to host School on Disordered Systems

New insights into sleep uncover key mechanisms related to cognitive function

USC announces strategic collaboration with Autobahn Labs to accelerate drug discovery

Detroit health professionals urge the community to act and address the dangers of antimicrobial resistance

3D-printing advance mitigates three defects simultaneously for failure-free metal parts 

Ancient hot water on Mars points to habitable past: Curtin study

In Patagonia, more snow could protect glaciers from melt — but only if we curb greenhouse gas emissions soon

Simplicity is key to understanding and achieving goals

Caste differentiation in ants

Nutrition that aligns with guidelines during pregnancy may be associated with better infant growth outcomes, NIH study finds

New technology points to unexpected uses for snoRNA

Racial and ethnic variation in survival in early-onset colorectal cancer

Disparities by race and urbanicity in online health care facility reviews

Exploring factors affecting workers' acquisition of exercise habits using machine learning approaches

Nano-patterned copper oxide sensor for ultra-low hydrogen detection

Maintaining bridge safer; Digital sensing-based monitoring system

A novel approach for the composition design of high-entropy fluorite oxides with low thermal conductivity

A groundbreaking new approach to treating chronic abdominal pain

ECOG-ACRIN appoints seven researchers to scientific committee leadership positions

[Press-News.org] CSA Aims to Curb Trucking Accidents
The Comprehensive Safety Analysis (CSA 2010) is designed to limit the number of serious trucking accidents.