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Highway Beat March 09, 2007

Excellence in Motion News & Information for Drivers and their Families

Data say congestion getting worse

Travel on American highways climbed to an all-time high in 2005, said Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Mary Peters. According to the newly released “Highway Statistics 2005,” an annual compilation of data reported to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) by all US states and territories, Americans drove nearly three trillion miles on American highways last year. This figure – 2,989,807,000,000 vehicle miles traveled – represents 27.4 billion mile increase over travel in 2004 and nearly 25% more than in 1995. 

There were 241.2 million vehicles registered in the United States in 2005, including 6.2 million motorcycles – the most ever recorded in both categories. “America is the most mobile nation in history,” Federal Highway Administrator J. Richard Capka said, “and, as these new data show, our interstate is every bit the critical infrastructure President Eisenhower foresaw 50 years ago when he created it.” 

The “Highway Statistics” series, which consists of statistical data on motor fuel, motor vehicles, driver licensing, highway-user taxation, state and local government highway finance, has been produced each year since 1945. To view “Highway Statistics 2005” or any of its predecessors, go to: http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/policy/ohpi/hss/hsspubs.htm.


Q & A (Inoperable brakes a violation)

The question again comes from the most recent Regulatory Guidance for the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR) published in the Federal Register. 

Q. If a truck or truck tractor manufactured prior to July 25, 1980, and having 3 or more axles, has inoperable brakes on the front axle or some of the brake components are missing, would the vehicle be in violation of §393.48? 

A. Yes. §393.48(a) requires that all brakes with which the vehicle is equipped must be operable at all times. Although §393.42(b)(1) provides an exception to the requirement for brakes on all wheels for trucks and truck tractors with 3 or more axles and manufactured prior to July 25, 1980, the exception does not affect the applicability of §393.48 for those cases in which the vehicle is equipped with inoperable front wheel brakes or only has certain portions of the front wheel brake system (e.g., shoes, linings, chambers, hoses) in place. (§393.48)

DOT announces 2006 stats

More Americans must take steps to protect themselves on the highways to reduce rising fatality numbers, Secretary of Transportation Mary E. Peters said while releasing a study announcing slight changes to the seatbelt and helmet-use figures from 2005 to 2006. Citing new data from the National Occupant Protection Use Survey (NOPUS), Peters said that seat belt use in the US now stands at 81%, down slightly from the 2005 use rate of 82%. She noted that in the West, belt use climbed from 85% to 90% between 2005 and 2006; and it rose from 82 to 83% in the South. However, in the Northeast, belt use fell to 74%, down from 78%; and in the Midwest it dropped to 77% from 79%. 

Peters noted that the Department of Transportation (DOT) is working with states to promote seat belt use, providing more than $123 million in 2006 incentive grants to states with primary seat belt laws. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) also coordinates the national Click It or Ticket law enforcement campaigns, which mobilize thousands of police agencies across the country to vigorously enforce state belt laws. 

Peters said the latest new data also shows that 51% of motorcyclists in the US now wear helmets, up from 48% in 2005. She noted that motorcycle helmet use rose in the West between 2005 and 2006 (from 50 to 72%); and in the Northeast (from 42 to 47%). However, the use rate fell in the Midwest (from 53 to 50%) and in the South (from 49 to 45%). (The only helmets counted in the survey were those that comply with DOT standards.) 

Nicole R. Nason, NHTSA administrator said NHTSA recently began to offer federal grants to states for programs to reduce the number of motorcyclist crashes. This year, for example, the agency will provide $6 million in grant funds to states for motorcycle safety training and motorist awareness programs. She said the agency will also create a public service announcement to promote helmet use and a consumer video for its website on how to choose a safe and well-fitting helmet.

Five steps to better problem-solving

If you have a problem that you need to solve but you’re not really sure where to start, then you should try the following tips. Everyone could benefit from learning more about problem solving. Take it step by step.

1.   Clearly identify exactly what the problem is. That means moving from the general to the very specific.

2.   Ask yourself what the possible causes of the problem are. Being able to identify the root causes of a problem goes a long way toward defining a solution.

3.   Once the cause is identified solutions will begin to become obvious. You can decide on an implementation plan.

4.   Review the problem and the possible identified solutions. You can now select your best plan of action.

5.   Develop a detailed plan that holds you (and whoever else is part of the situation) responsible for getting a resolution. The final step is to execute the plan and put the current problem to rest.

 CVSA changes meeting structure

The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) will be changing the structure of its two spring and fall meetings in 2007. The most significant change is CVSA partnering with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) at the spring meeting to accommodate the annual Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program (MCSAP) Leadership Conference, and planning meetings. 

At the spring meeting, CVSA will still have a full range of activities including committee meetings, informational sessions, and the exhibit hall. It will increase the amount of time dedicated to informational sessions available to members, industry and others. 

Starting in 2008, the CVSA Annual Conference, currently held in spring, will be moved to fall. The fall Workshop will be moved to the spring. This change is being made to accommodate the nature of the work at the revamped spring meeting, etc. 

Due to the change in meetings, the Bylaws will be affected. Specifically, the change will impact terms of office for several officers, extending terms by approximately six months. John Harrison (incoming President), Darren Christle (incoming Vice President) and Francis “Buzzy” France (incoming Secretary/Treasurer) will each serve for 18 months in their respective positions. 

The fall 2007 Workshop will still take place in Pittsburgh PA. The 2008 Annual Conference will take place in the fall of 2008 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The exact dates and hotel location for the spring 2008 Workshop have yet to be determined.

FMCSA has informed CVSA that participation in both the spring and fall CVSA meetings will be eligible for reimbursement under the MCSAP.Q & A (Meal stops as off-duty time)

The question again comes from the most recent Regulatory Guidance for the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR) published in the Federal Register.

Q. What conditions must be met for a CMV driver to record meal and other routine stops made during a tour of duty as off-duty time? 

A. 1. The driver must have been relieved of all duty and responsibility for the care and custody of the vehicle, its accessories, and any cargo or passengers it may be carrying. 

2. The duration of the driver’s relief from duty must be a finite period of time which is of sufficient duration to ensure that the accumulated fatigue resulting from operating a CMV will be significantly reduced. 

3. If the driver has been relieved from duty, as noted in (1) above, the duration of the relief from duty must have been made known to the driver prior to the driver’s departure in written instructions from the employer. There are no record retention requirements for these instructions on board a vehicle or at a motor carrier’s principal place of business. 

4. During the stop, and for the duration of the stop, the driver must be at liberty to pursue activities of his/her own choosing and to leave the premises where the vehicle is situated. (§395.2)Spring has Sprung!

Wednesday March 21, 2007, marks the first day of spring this year. The spring equinox and the fall equinox are the two days in the year when the hours of daylight and darkness are exactly equal. There are 12 hours of each. From March 20 or 21 until the longest day of the year on June 21 or 22, the nights will grow shorter and shorter.
 

You can find a lot of fun spring activity suggestions at this site on the Web: http://www.kidsturncentral.com/holidays/spring.htm  - check it out when you have some time to spend getting into the swing of things with some fun spring things!

Study shows caffeine improves memory

A study done by Austrian researchers found that caffeine positively affects short-term memory. It was presented at a meeting of the Radiological Society of North America. “We were able to show that caffeine modulates a higher brain function through its effects on distinct areas of the brain,” said the study’s lead researcher from Austria’s University of Innsbruck.

The researchers used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to determine the effects of caffeine consumption on brain activity in 15 healthy adult volunteers during a working memory task. Working memory is the is the type of memory that is used for tasks such as looking up telephone numbers and remembering them long enough to dial them correctly.

Volunteers were shown a sequence of simple images and asked if they matched images they saw two images before. Some volunteers consumed liquid that had been infused with 100 mg of caffeine (the amount in approximately 2 cups of coffee) while some received liquid with no caffeine. 

Those who consumed the caffeine showed a tendency toward improved short-term memory skills and reaction times. The MRI showed increased activity in regions of the brain located in the frontal lobe, part of the working memory network, and in the anterior cingulum, the part of the brain that controls attention. 

The lead researcher does not recommend increasing caffeine intake, but says: “We can demonstrate that caffeine exerts influence on the function of the normal brain, but we still need to learn more about caffeine’s effect on mental resources.”

Please wish the following drivers a happy birthday this month:

Shawn Young

Daryl Withrow

Tim Showalter

William Schultz

Kenny Hines

Gerald Bruce

Nate Tucker

Joe Stenger

The following drivers need to renew their CDL:

Gerald Bruce

The following drivers need to renew their Physical:

Bill Hickenbottom

Gilbert Peters

Troy Huml

Dean Littman

Keith Mccleary

Bill Heagstedt

Melvin Showalter

Tim Reed

Remember to get these done at Martins Ferry, Ohio or Cambridge, Ohio. If you need assistance, please call Joe Showalter.