Contact: Beth Weaver, beth_weaver@verizon.net, 301.814.4088

TRUCK SAFETY LEGISLATION REQUIRING AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING AND MINIMUM INSURANCE INDEXING TO BE INTRODUCED

 Truck Crash Survivors and Advocates Push Safety Agenda

WHAT: News Conference –Truck crash survivors and safety advocates to join with U.S. Representatives Chuy Garcia (D-IL), Hank Johnson (D-GA) and Matt Cartwright (D-PA) to announce the introduction of critical safety legislation that would require automatic emergency braking for new commercial trucks, and increase the minimum insurance level for large trucks to account for the medical cost inflation since 1980, and future indexing.

Dozens of truck crash survivors and families are in Washington, DC for the Truck Safety Coalition’s biennial Sorrow to Strength conference for workshops on truck safety issues, advocacy and a remembrance ceremony.

There were 4,761 truck crash fatalities in the United States in 2017, an increase of 41 percent since 2007. Truck Safety Coalition urges passage and implementation of the following data-driven and long-delayed truck safety mandates:

  •        Safe Roads Act (Automatic Emergency Braking)
  •        Cullum Owings Large Truck Safe Operating Speed Act (S. 2033)
  •        Improving National Safety by Updating the Required Amount of Insurance Needed by Commercial  Motor Vehicles Act (INSURANCE Act)
  •        Stop Underrides Act (H.R. 1511 and S. 665)

Truck safety advocates from 20 states including CA, DC, DE, FL, GA, IL, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, NC, NJ, NY, OH, OK, SC, TN, TX, UT are available for interviews.

WHEN: Tuesday, July 16, 12 p.m.

WHERE: House Triangle, U.S. Capitol, Washington, DC

WHO:  

Representative Chuy Garcia (D-IL)

Representative Hank Johnson (D-GA)

Representative Matt Cartwright (D-PA)

Harry Adler, Executive Director, Truck Safety Coalition

Pam Biddle, Waverly Hall, GA—On May 13, 2017, Pam’s 23-year-old son, Aaron Lee, was with his father, Brian, and Brian’s partner, Stephanie Swaim, near Terre Haute, IN when they were stopped in traffic due to a car carrier that had a brake fire.  A semi driver failed to slow and rear-ended their car which was pushed into another semi in front of them. The vehicles burst into flames killing Aaron, Brian, and Stephanie. Aaron was close to receiving his degree from the Purdue School of Nursing. Brian was a Navy veteran who served in Desert Storm. Stephanie left behind five children.

Kate Brown, Gurnee, Illinois—On May 2, 2005, Kate’s 27-year-old son Graham was hit by an impaired and fatigued truck driver in Round Lake, Illinois.  The truck driver fell asleep and swerved into the oncoming lane, hitting Graham’s car.  After the crash, the truck driver was witnessed saying he had been “partying all night.”  Graham underwent 22 different surgeries, and three full years of physical and occupational therapy.  He is now permanently, partially disabled.

Catherine Chase, President, Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety

The Truck Safety Coalition is a partnership between Citizens for Reliable and Safe Highways (CRASH) and Parents Against Tired Truckers (PATT) dedicated to reducing the number of deaths and injuries caused by truck-related crashes.  Truck Safety Coalition provides compassionate support to truck crash survivors and families of truck crash victims, and educates public policy-makers and media about truck safety issues.

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